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MINISTRATION

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sea-going and fighting efficiency of ships in reserve or .armoured cruisers of the Cressy class—the Euryalus and commission. Good progress was also attained with the Bacchante; and two others—the Drake and King Alfred— remaining five ships of the Majestic class, though in subse- of a still larger type, displacing 14,100 tons, as well as quent years, owing to strikes in the engineering trade and four sloops. The year 1898-99 was also marked by the some other circumstances, the work was much impeded. introduction of a supplementary shipbuilding programme. The programme of 1896-97 included five battleships, of It was explained by the First Lord, in July 1898, that the which three—the Goliath, Canopus, and Oceom—were programme at first presented was considered adequate at built in the dockyards, and two—the Albion and Glory the time, and was based on the principle that the British by contract on the Thames and the Clyde. They navy must be equal in number, but superior in power, to are of a new class, displacing 12,950 tons, standing mid- the fleets of any two countries. Mr Goschen stated that way between the Renown and the Majestic. The pro- it was impossible to conceal the fact that the action of gramme also included four first-class protected cruisers of Russia, and the programme on which she had entered, was the Diadem class (11,000 tons)—the Spartmte, Argonaut, the cause of this further strengthening the fleet. Mr Amphitrite, and Ariadne; three second-class cruisers of Goschen’s explanation was enforced in these words: 5600 tons—the Hermes, Highjlyer, and Hyacinth-, six “ What, then, is our position 1 We know of six Russian third-class cruisers of 2135 tons—the Pomone, Prometheus, battleships to be laid down this year, including one already Pegasus, Pyramus, Pactolus, and Perseus; and twenty- begun. We have now verified where those six ships are eight torpedo-boat destroyers. Of the first-class cruisers, to be built. Of those I took two into account in my the Spartiate was laid down at Pembroke, and the others original estimate, so that the balance against us was four. in private yards. The vessels under construction during Accordingly, I must ask the House to sanction four battlethis year comprised thirteen battleships, ten first-class ships beyond my original estimate. The new Russian cruisers, sixteen second-class cruisers, seven third-class programme also provides for four cruisers from the comcruisers, and a number of destroyers and the expenditure mencement of this year, and we propose to commence an involved considerably exceeded that incurred in any equal number—that is to say, four cruisers in addition previous financial year, and the numbers and type of the to those provided for already.” The supplementary pronew ships laid down were exceptional. The progress gramme, therefore, provided for the laying down of four made was in many ways good, the Mars and Jupiter, for battleships and four armoured cruisers, as well as twelve example, being delivered by the contractors five months destroyers, and the total liability involved was about within the contract date. Some of the ships were, how- £8,000,000, to be spread over about three and a half ever, greatly retarded by the dispute in the engineering years. The four new battleships were the Duncan, Corntrade. The Ccesar, Illustrious, and Hannibal were de- wallis, Exmouth, and Russell, all built by contract, dislayed, and some of the ships of the Canopus class, though placing 14,000 tons, and intermediate in size between the rapidly pushed forward until the engineering dispute Formidable and Canopus classes with superior speed and began, were, owing to the non-delivery of structural thinner armour, the latter being due to improved processes portions, much retarded. Progress with certain of the of steel-production. The armoured cruisers were the cruisers was also impeded. In the shipbuilding pro- Leviathan and Good Hope, both of the Drake class (14,100 gramme of 1897-98 four battleships were included—the tons), and the Bedford and Monmouth of a smaller type Vengeance, of the Canopus class, built at Barrow, and the (9800 tons). Shipbuilding progress was still impeded, Formidable, Implacable, and Irresistible (Majesties with work being much disarranged owing to the unprecedented some improvements), constructed in the dockyards. The activity in mercantile shipbuilding which followed the programme also included three third-class cruisers, two labour dispute, and serious delay resulted from.the insloops, four gunboats, two torpedo-boat destroyers, and ability of the shipbuilding contractors to procure the a new royal yacht, which was built at Pembroke. In necessary materials. The ships could not thus be laid addition, Mr Goschen, then First Lord, announced in down nor carried forward so advantageously as had been July 1897 that in consequence of the proposed additions hoped, and further delay occurred owing to the introto the navies of foreign Powers, he had received an duction of the Krupp process of armour, which made additional sum of £500,000 from the chancellor of the necessary the reconstruction of steel-producing plant. . The exchequer, wherewith it was proposed to begin the con- programme of 1899-1900 included two other battleships struction of four armoured cruisers of an entirely new the Montague and Albemarle (14,000 tons)—of the Duncan design, which, it was said, would be capable both of class, and two armoured cruisers—the Kent and Essex commerce protection and of taking their place in the line (9800 tons)—of the Bedford class, all to be built in the of battle. These were the Cressy and Aboukir, built at dockyards, as well as three smaller cruisers, two sloops, Glasgow, the Hogue at Barrow, and the Sutlej at Clyde- and two first-class torpedo boats. Once more it proved bank—all displacing 12,000 tons. This extensive pro- that abnormal activity in shipbuilding and Delays in gramme was very seriously affected by the prolonged engineering seriously affected building progress, construct,on labour disputes, which lasted from July 1897 until and checked expenditure on ships, machinery, February 1898, and Mr Goschen confessed that the Board and armour. Delay in the delivery of material, difficulties was unable to foresee the exact amount by which the: in securing adequate numbers of workmen, and othei ciranticipated expenditure on new constructions would fall cumstances caused the aggregate earnings on contract short. The difficulties arising from the labour dispute) work to fall short of the estimated amount by about although the estimate had been calculated affected the production of machinery, gun-mountings, £1,400,000,, armour, and almost every important class of material, and[ on ’ the basis of actual earnings in past years of ships in the dockyards the work was delayed by the inability of: of similar character, and on close investigation of the the contractors to deliver the material they had under-- possible output of armour. Progress in the dockyards taken to supply. The commencement of the armouredl was also impeded, and was further affected, by the fact cruisers was also delayed by the introduction and trial off that a large number of the ships were designed for exnew types of 12-inch and 6-inch guns. Nevertheless thej ceptionally high speed, and were therefore to be provided estimates of 1898-99 proposed to build three battleships3 Avith propelling machinery of great power. The shipof 15,000 tons and of the Formidable class—the London,, building programme of 1900-1 included two battleships Venerable, and Bulwark; and to put in hand also two3 the Queen and Prince of Wales; six first-class armoured