TO BREAK THE ARMOUR RING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 109, 9 May 1914, Page 10

TO BREAK THE ARMOUR RING

It is now practically certain that in the course of the next two or three years the United States Government will be in a position to manufacture at least half of the total amount of armour required for the vessels that may be annually sanctioned by Congress. The United States Committee of Naval Affairs has decided that steps be taken towards the erection of a Government armour plant. References to the armour question in annual report of Mr. Daniels', Secretary of the United States Nav\, shows that the British Government pays even more for its armour than the American. He advocates the erection of a Government plant "in order to relieve a situation which, in my estimation, is intolerable, and at total variances with the principle of economy in spending Government money." Figures are quoted to show that the tenders submitted by the three firms in America which undertake this work seldom vary more than • a feW dollars one from the other, and are often " identical to a cent," thus indicating that the element' of competition has been elimin* ated. In 1911 these American firms furnished armour to Italy at £79 a ton, while at the same time they were charging the United States Government £84. At the present time they are supplying armour for the Japanese battle cruiser Haruna, building in Japan, at a little over £81, while similar material for tho United States battleship No. 39 is being charged from £88 to over £100 a ton. The cost of transport to Italy and Japan emphasises the striking character of these differences.