BRITISH GUNS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 307, 28 December 1922, Page 5

BRITISH GUNS.

AMERICAN OUTRANGED. MODERNISING THE FLEET. WASHINGTON", December 20. The Senate Committee considering the Naval Bill heard naval officers on the danger-of United States ships being inferior in range, when the British modernisation of ships carrying 15-inch guns is complete, giving the British fleet a range of 30,000 yarde against the United States fleet's 20.000 yards. The officers thought that 60.000,000 dollars would modernise United States ships equally . They asked for the conversion of all American ships carrying 14-inch guns to oil-burners, and also a limit programme for the modernisation of United States ships retained under the Washington Treaty. The comparison of British and United States ranges overshadowed the other recommendations. Tn the navies ac at present constituted Groat Britain has 16 capital ships carrying 13-inch guns, while America has none. The two new battleships which Britain is permitted to lay down under the provisions of the "Washington Treaty, and the construction of which was recently authorised by Parliament, are to carry 16-inoh guns. America has three first-class capital ships building, and to be completed in 1023, and to t-arry 16-inch guns. Six similar ships, ■which were to have 'been constructed, will now not be proceeded with. The new 16-inoh guns in both British and American chips will be of very similnr design. No further capital ships can be laid down for the British Navy till 1931.