4 MARCH 1911, Page 2

In the French Chamber of Deputies, on Friday week, the

Government was authorised to place orders this year for two battleships of 23,500 tons. As the Times correspondent says, the decision was a triumph for M. Delcasse, who is President of the Navy Committee of the Chamber. M. Delcasse said that the country need feel no apprehension as to the adequacy of its Navy, provided that Admiral Boue de Lapeyriire's pro- gramme be carried out. The programme lays down a fixed strength for the Navy of 28 battleships, 10 scouts, 52 de- stroyers, and 94 submarines. These ships are to be renewed in rotation according to an age-limit. The total cost, including dockyards, will be £54,000,000, which will be spread over ten years. The annual expenditure will therefore be £5,400,000, or only 2600,000 more than the existing expenditure. M. Delcasse explained that in order that the two new battleships should be commissioned by August, 1914, it was essential that they should be laid down in private yards. The fall of M. Briand's Government, on which we write fully elsewhere, postponed the decision on this point.