AMERICAN NAVY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17749, 28 April 1923, Page 11

AMERICAN NAVY.

ELEVATION OF GUNS. (BT CAjBLS— peess association—coptriqht.) (AUSTRALIAN AND N.2. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) WASHINGTON, April 26. Mr.Denby (Secretary to the Navy) says the elevation of the guns of United States warships will not be undertaken unless Congress approves. He declared that while a disparity doas exist between the British and American ranges, it has been greatly exaggerated. The facts will be submitted to Congress, which will have to determine whether 6,500,000 dollars appropriated last session for gun elevations will be used for that purpose or not.

[A previous message said: It is reported that President Harding has returned from his vacation to find the State and Navy Departments clashing on the question of the elevation of guns for American capital ships, and the President and the Cabinet will have to judge the controversy. The correspondent of the "New York Sun" says: "The Navy Department will not yield in its viewpoint that a change in gun elevation should be made in thirteen (Ships. On the contrary, while the State Department does not contend that gun elevation and range increases are precluded by the Washington Treaty, Mr C. E. Hughes (Secretary of State) does maintain that any such changes by the United State 3 would be the signal for other countries to do likewise, and thus the spirit of the Washington Treaty would be disobeyed." The correspondent adds: "Naval officers are so vigorous in demanding that the Navy's efficiency should be increased that the controversy may become one of the most important which have confronted.the Harding Administration."] _____