NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19063, 27 July 1927, Page 11

NAVAL CONFERENCE.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PBESS. Sir, —In regard to the Naval Limitations Conference now being held Geneva, and Mr J. L. Garvin's comments in the "Observer" as published in to-day's Press, it is interesting to note that the object of the conference convoked by President Coolidge is not to discuss limiting the number of capital ships or aircraft carriers, as that problem was solved at the Washington Conference of 1922, but to limit just three classes of ships, i.e., cruisers, destroyers, and submarines. It is significant that the non-participation ot France and Italy (both Powers which rely on the submarine as their trump naval arm) will make it impossible to scrap or even seriously to limit either that arm or arms used to combat it. In regard to cruisers the Washington Conference limited cruiser tonnag© to 10,000 and cruiser guns to eight-inch calibre but did not limit cruiser numbers, which has resulted in the development of a new _ type or super-cruiser mounting eight-inch guns capable of firing five shells each per minute, and with a fighting speed close to 40 miles per hour (35 knots)._ At present Britain has 14 of these cruisers, Japan 4, France 3, Italy 2, and the United States 2. Thus if a 5-5-3 cruiser ratio be negotiated at Geneva, the United States would almost certainly have to build up to Britain and J a panAs these cruisers cost about £2,000,000 to build, this would cost United States taxpayers at least £24,000,000. Since the reduction of the present number of submarines and fast cruisers would thus be so difficult of attainment the most likely step seems to be to reduce future cruiser tonnage This step should meet with the approval of Britain, as there are British naval bases in every quarter of the globe from which these little ships could operate. Japan should approve because her immediate naval objectives are of the short range type. It should appeal to United States public opinion as something definitely accomplished, although with but few bases and the distant Philippines to defend, she would be placed at some disadvantage. As the outcome of the conference is so important, it will be eagerly awaited by the peoples of the three great naval Powers concerned. —Yours, etc., S.B.G. July 25th.