Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/53

 1899.] Army and Navy Estimates. [45

extension of our territory responsibility in Africa was one of the main causes in the increase of our military expenditure.

The Navy Estimates, although showing an even larger advance than those for the Army, were necessitated by the programme to which the Government had committed itself three years previously. Of the total increase for the year 1899-1900, 2,816,100Z., more than two millions were absorbed by the shipbuilding vote, but this sum included practically a revote of nearly two millions on account of work in arrear on the previous year. The total number of officers, seamen and marines required for the current year was fixed at 110,640, as compared with 106,390 in 1898-9, and 10,050 in 1897-8. The increase for the year, viz., 4,250, included 463 officers, 1,700 petty officers and seamen, 215 engine-room artificers, 1,000 stokers, and 500 marines. The continued expansion of the fleet would necessitate increasing the number of flag officers from 68 to 80, of captains from 208 to 245, and lieutenants from 1,150 to 1,550, in proportion as the new ships were ready for their services.

With regard to the progress made with building the new ships under the original programme of 1898-9, the First Lord was able to announce that the work in all cases had been com- menced, and that with regard to the supplemental programme put forward at the close of the preceding session four battle- ships and two cruisers had been ordered in private yards. Tenders for the other two cruisers and twelve torpedo destroyers had been invited, but the strike in the engineers' trade and other labour difficulties had materially delayed the work put out to contract, especially in respect of the machinery, armour, etc.

The detailed results of the year showed that two battleships of the Majestic class — the Hannibal and the Illustrious — had been commissioned. Of the Canopus class two would, it was expected, be ready in June ; a third — the Goliath — in September ; and the other two before the close of the financial year ; whilst the last vessel of the class — the Vengeance — was expected to be ready in July, 1900. Of the Formidable class, the cancelling of the Implacable in March, 1899, would make it possible to set to work on all three ships designed, and would complete the six vessels which on account of their speed, size and armament had been described as improved Majesties. The four battleships ordered under the supplementary programme were to be of the Duncan type, intermediate in size between the Formidable and Canoptis classes, but carrying the armament of the former with a speed of nineteen knots. Of the first-class cruisers, eight vessels of the Diadem class which were in hand at the beginning of 1898 would be practically ready for sea in 1899. Six armoured cruisers of the Cressy type, building by contract, were somewhat in arrear, but recently good progress had been made with them. Four large armoured cruisers of the Drake type, speed twenty- three knots, two belonging to the original and two to the