TERRIFIC NAVIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 242, 13 October 1925, Page 7

TERRIFIC NAVIES.

WEAPONS OF DEATH HECTIC RUSH OF POWERS. RACE TOWARDS WAR. NEVER-ENDING RIVALRY. (By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright.: (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, October 12. The "Financial Times" says that 192----has been notable for the immense nev naval tonnage, the greatest in an} - postwar year. Already 300,000 tons have goiu afloat, equivalent to 12 pre-war dreadnoughts. Britain is building 70.000 tons, reprc eented by the battleships Nelson anc liodney. The latter is being launchec on December 17. Three monster aircraft carrier; account for 03,000 tons. America's Sara toga and Lexington, and Japan's Akag have been launched. The remainder ol the tonnage consists of smaller and more deadly craft, such as fast, heavilygunned cruisers, which are more effective in preying upon commerce than defending it, also giant destroyers and swarms of submarines. The latter are so numerous it is difficult to keep a count of the launchings, France is building '2~> and has ordered 36 others. Japan is building 12 and has ordered 16. Italy is building 20. Britain contemplates building 24. America has just launched two of the largest submarines in the world, and ordered three since the Washington Conference. The five-Powers' programme include two battleships, four aircraft carriers, 63 cruisers, i 44 destroyers, 154 submaraes at a total cost of £300,000,000. It is impossible to conceive a more ironical commentary on the Washington Naval Limitation Treaty. Clearly a new shipbuilding rivalry has developed. There is a strong argument for holding • second conference.— ("Sun.")