NAVAL PROBLEMS

Evening Star, Issue 22206, 7 December 1935, Page 15

NAVAL PROBLEMS

SHIPBUILDING PLANS WORK FOR THE CONFERENCE Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 6. Published on the eve-of tile Naval Conference, ‘ Jane’s Annual ’ says: “ A new era in battleship construction _has begun. It may be said to have opened with the laying down of the French battleship Dunkerque three years ago. A sister ship has since been commenced, and approval has also been given for the construction of two 35,000 ton vessels to match the Italians. Germany is building two 26,000 ton vessels to counter-balance the ’ Dunkerque type.” Giving the first authentic details of the new German battleships, ‘ Jane’s Annual ’ says: “ They are based on the experience of Jutland, where llin guns put British out of action. Very heavy guns have been abandoned,' and they will mount nine llin guns, which is, a lighter battery than those of wartime battle cruisers such as the Seydlitz carried on a displacement of 3,000 tons less.” Dwelling on the costliness of modern ships, * Jane’s Annual ’ points out that a salvo of nine shells from the £7,500,000 Nelson’s 16in guns costs £7OO. The principal task of the conference should be to ensure that an armament race shall not start on the termination of the Washington-London Treaties. AMERICAN DELEGATES ARRIVE . (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 6. (Received December 7, at noon.) The three American delegates to the Naval Conference—Mr Norman Davis. Mr William Phillips, and Admiral Stanley—landed at Southampton today. /