Expenditure for Naval Construction in Britain France and Russia in 1894.

The actual figures for naval construction for the current year are Britain, £2,982,000; France, £2,918,000; Russia, £2,692,000. Our sea-borne commerce enormously exceeds that of any other Power. That of France and Russia is comparatively insignificant, their colonial possessions are of very minor importance, yet each of them is spending nearly as much as Britain is on naval construction. Why should our European neighbours, whose maritime interests are in no way menaced by the naval superiority of this country, endeavour to wrest from us that command of the sea which is so necessary to our national life and independence?—Speech of Lord Roberts, in London, December 15th.