It is understood that the Government is much disturbed by
the agitation which has arisen as to the condition of the Navy ; that a debate on the subject is certain ; and that the Government will make a declaration. Under these circumstances, a memorandum drawn up by Lord Charles Beresford on November 18th is of value. This capable naval authority declares that the British Fleet ought to be brought up to a strength sufficient to cope with France and Russia in combination ; and for this purpose England should have 60 battleships, whereas she has 45, 120 cruisers, which she possesses, 377 torpedo-boats, or 280 more than she pos- sesses, and a great commercial mole at Gibraltar. Thirty more torpedo-boats would, however, do for the present, if we had 10 3,500-ton ironclads specially built to smash torpedo-stations. The total cost of the whole would be £18,000,000, This large sum could not, of course, be spent all at once ; but some of the outlay, especially for torpedo- boats and new small ironclads, is needed immediately. It is not likely that the Government will rouse itself to any such demand ; but a supplementary budget for the Navy is almost inevitable, and must add greatly to Sir W. Har- court's already pressing difficulties.
