NAVAL PROBLEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 26, 31 January 1921, Page 5

NAVAL PROBLEMS.

BIG SHIP AND DISARMAMENT.! CABINET IN DOUBT. LONDON, January 30. i Since the 'Daily Chronicle's announce- \ .nent last week that the sub-committee j of the Council of Imperial Defence, which is investigating the technical utility and ! tactical value of battleships, had de- j i-ided against the continuation of the "big ship" policy, the committee has continued the inquiry. It is known that a large body of Admiralty evidence favoured the continuance of the building of bi£ ships, though the financial difficulties of continuing the policy are very j L-rcat. Jt is now understood" that the \ Cabinet will not come to a final decision I i:i regard to the matter until it has consulted the Dominions at the confer- j ence of Prime Ministers, to be held in I June—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) DIVERGENT VIEWS IN U.S. NEW YORK. January 30. Admiral W. 2. Sims, who commanded the United States fleet in the war, in a speech at Haverill, Massachusetts, said that disarmament was impossible at present. The United Utates should continue her naval construction programme. Only when all nations agreed to do away with armies and navies would it be safe for the United States to disarm. The Secretary of War, Mr. N. D. Baker, giving evidence before the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, said: ' : I believe that the United States ought to lead the world in disarmament as a practical manifestation of its peaceful intentions."—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) CIVILIANS AND EXPERTS. I Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 30. The deadlock in the capital ships inquiry is due to the predominantly civilian character of the committee which is dealing with a highly technical subject. On the one hand they are impressed by the march of invention and the lessons learned through the air and undersea activities, but on the other hand they found a big rally throughout the higher ranks at the Admiralty in favour of big ships.