GUN ELEVATIONS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 174, 11 April 1923, Page 7

GUN ELEVATIONS

IN AMERICA’S CAPITAL SHIPS EFFECT OF WASHINGTON TREATIES CLASH BETWEEN STATE AND NAVY DEPARTMENTS By Telegraph.—Pbuss association. —Copyright. New York, April 9. The “New York Sun’s” Washington correspondent declares that President Harding has returned to find the State and Navy Departments clashing on the question of the elevation of guns in America’s capital ships, and the President and Cabinet will have to decide the controversy. The correspondent states that the Navy Department will not yield its viewpoint that alterations to existing gun elevations should be made in thirteen ships. On the other hand, while tho State Department docs not contend that gun elevation and range increases are precluded by the Washington Treaty, Mr. C. E. Hughes (Secretary of State) maintains that any such changes by the United States would be the signal for other countries to do likewise, and thus the spirit of the Washington Treaties would be disobeyed. Tile correspondent adds that naval officers are so vigorous in demanding that the navy’s efficiency should be increased that the controversy has become one of the most important which has confronted tho Harding Administration.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.