§ Mr. YERBURGHasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has received any official information to the effect that the new Austrian shipbuilding programme to replace their obsolete "Monarch" division of battleships is to consist of three battleships of the largest type, each to be armed with ten 13.4-inch guns?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere is no official information, but according to Austrian Press reports the Austro-Hungarian Minister of Marine, in a speech delivered to the Delegations, said that as other countries had adopted guns of larger calibre than 12-inch, Austria-Hungary would follow suit, and that this would necessitate an increased displacement in any future battleships.