The Supplementary Navy Estimate of 21,270,000 was con- sidered in
Supply on Tuesday. Of this sum, the largest item, 2770,000, represents part of the purchase-money of the two Chilian battleships recently added to the Navy ; and Mr. Robertson, after commenting on the growth of our expendi- ture, asked why the Government had changed its opinion as to their value since last March. In reply, the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that the terms subsequently offered were more favourable to this country, and that a ship might be unsuitable at one price and not at another. Mr. Ritchie, who had been Chancellor when the original offer was made, expressed his satisfaction with the bargain, as warranted by the altered circumstances ; and Mr. Pretyman, Secretary to the Admiralty, explained that as a result of the purchase the Admiralty, having secured two battleships for the price of two cruisers, instead of laying down three battle- ships next April, would only lay down two in the autumn. The Navy Vote having been agreed to, consideration of the Supplementary Army Vote was resumed on the iterh of £150,000 for Yeomanry contingents in South Africa. Mr, Brodrick defended the delay of the War Office as due to the belief of the authorities that the war was coming to an end. The second lot of Yeomanry was despatched in an incomplete condition, in order to meet Lord Kitchener's urgent appeals for more troops.
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