1910-02-03 RUSSIA AND THE BLACK SEA

London Times, 3 February 1911, p. 5: RUSSIA AND THE BLACK SEA. ST. PETERSBURG, FEB. 2.*

The Duma Committee of National Defence has drawn up a formidable indictment against the Ministry of Marine, charging it with devoting to other purposes the credits voted in 1908 and 1909 for torpedo-boats and submarines in the Black Sea. It also accuses the Ministry of disregarding the naval programme which was approved by the Tsar, and suggests that the Ministry considers the naval position of Russia in the Black Sea so satisfactory that it does not need any strengthening.

The report dwells at length on the Turkish naval developments in the Black Sea, and raises a warning of possible disaster the consequences of which it is impossible to foresee.