FOR SCRAP HEAP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 33, 8 February 1930, Page 9

FOR SCRAP HEAP.

• BRITISH WARSHIPS. 3 Effect of Agreement With Japan and America. DOMINIONS WELL PROTECTED. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, February 7. 3 • The reduction of the British and 3 American cruiser tonnages was 1 rendered possible by Japan agreeing L * not to press for a 10—10—7 ratio but accepting a 10—10—6 ratio, thus balancing the fleets of the Pacific. 3 This will work out at a much more 2 favourable scale for the Dominions' - interests, to which Britain's right to have a preponderance of commerce- - protecting cruisers is of major 2 importance. [ The British Government memorandum, as finally formulated after consultation f with the Dominions, who agree thereto, 3 i 3 now issued and gives a definite idea ; of Britain's attitude regarding the s American statement. It is proposed that a general agreement resulting from the present conference will continue till 1936, a further conference reviewing the situation in 1 1935. Britain, therefore, suggests an " agreement, not only globally but categorically, applicable to ships, aircraftcarriers, cruisers, destroyers and sub- ■ marines, plus eliminating competitive l building and maintaining equilibrium ■ between the fleets. 1 Britain does not favour a general [ transfer to other categories of. tonnage assigned to certain categories, opposes . transfer regarding capital ships, aircraft- , carriers and submarines and suggests L transferring a percentage of Bin gun cruisers to the 6in class. Britain proposes that the number of each Power's capital ships fixed by the Washington Treaty should be reached in eighteen months after the ratification of the treaty, resulting from this conference instead of in 1936. The gist of # the ' British proposal is that she scrap down to fifteen a3 early.as possible, lamely, by demolishing five vessels in eighteen months, which is the quickest the Admiralty can manage. There would be no rebuilding before 1936. Capital Ship Situation. At present the capital ship situation is as follows: —Britain has 20, United States 18, and Japan 10. _ The Washington Treaty compels Britain and the United States to reduce the number to 15 by 1936. For that reason, of her 20. Britain scraps ten, but may build five new ships; the United States scraps eight of her 18 and builds five; and Japan scraps four of her ten and builds three. 4 Britain hopes for an agreement for the abolition of battleships in view of their doubtful value owing to their cost, and in the light of the development of aerial and submarine efficiency. In any case she expects an exchange of the views of the conference delegates on the suggested reduction in size from 35,0C0 to 25,000 tons, the reduction of 16in to 12in guns, and the lengthening of their age from 20 to 26 years. The Government would limit tonnage and gun calibre of aircraft-carriers, and suggests: that vessels of 10,000 tons ,and under, employed as aircraft-cari iers, should be included in the total tonnage. Britain proposes a reduction of the Anglo-American aircraft tonnage from 135,000 to 100,000 tons, and the adjusting of the - other nations' quotas to the Washington ratios. ( The Anglo-American conversation assumed a subdivision of cruisers into Bin and 6in gun classes, Britain's requirements being 50 cruisers of a total tonnage of 339,000 and a life of 20 years, the conference decision regarding the limitation of the size of units to govern the final arrangements. The proposed limit' of tonnage of destroyers is 1850 for leaders and 1500 for others, with a minimum gun calibre both of sin. At present the British building programmes envisages a total destroyer tonnage of 200,000, reducible , if the other Powers modify their sub- ■ marine programmes. Britain proposes the abolition of submarines, otherwise their limitation to defence requirements at the . lowest possible, limit and urges the regulation and employment of submarines and anti- 1 merchant ships.