NAVAL BUILDING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 169, 1 May 1935, Page 5

NAVAL BUILDING

GERMAN PROGRAMME. FAR EXCEEDING TREATY LIMITS, TWO BATTLESHIPS, THREE CRUISERS, SIXTEEN DESTROYERS ALSO. ITALIAN PAPER’S STATEMENT. (United Press As»K>cWon— Copy rigiiP (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) ROME, April 30. The “Giornale d’ltalia” reports that Germany has decided on a huge naval programme for 1935-36. It is three times larger than that of the previous year. The total tonnage will he 100,000 tons,and the units will far exceed the limits provided by the Treaty of Versailles. The programme was decided on three weeks before the proposed Anglo-Ger-man conversations, thus again presenting a fait accompli. Details are: Battleships—Two of 20,000 tons. Cruisers—Two of 10,000 tons; one of 6000 tons. Destroyers—Sixteen of 1400 tons. Flotilla leaders—'Ten of 800 tons. The programme also includes submarines of from 400 to 500 tons, considerably exceeding the 12 already announced. Thus by 1938 Germany’s naval strength will be 166,000 tons, excluding submarines.

THE SUBMARINE ISSUE. CONSIDERATION BY BRITAIN. (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 30. The provisional arrangements for the Anglo-German preliminary conversa--tions on. naval matters contemplated that the German delegates would visit London about the second week in May, but the date of the opening of the talks'was left to the German authorities. , It is now understood that, in view of the fact that Herr Hitler proposes to make an important announcement on Germany’s foreign policy on or about May *ls, a request for further postponement of the conversations has been received. Sir John Simon was asked in the House of Commons whether, in view of the German intimation regarding the building of submarines, it was proposed to proceed 1 with the conversations. The Secretary of State replied that the position created by the German intimation was under consideration. Newspaper reports from Berlin state that the British Government knew of the German plans some weeks ago. British Official Wireless.

RACE FOR NAVAL SUPREMACY.

RUSSIAN CONCERN OVER BALTIC

(Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.V LONDON. April 30

The “Daily Express” says that Germany’s programme for building submarines has ledi to a race for naval supremacy in the Baltic. According to the “Express,” MVoroshilev summoned a conclave of high naval chiefs in Moscow. Ho pointed out the danger to the Soviet of a power German fleet in the Baltic. Which would separate Russia from France and Russia’s Black Sea fleet from the Baltic. The Naval Council drew up a construction plan for immediate submission to M. Stalin. The Council stresses the necessity for rapid construction of submarines and warships at Kronstadt. The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press', however, emphasises that Germany has spent so much building 2000 aeroplanes that she will have no money for a big naval programme in the near future. The German theory envisages a combination of small submarines and fast, light destroyers about Skaggerrak to guard the approaches to the Baltic Sea.