SCRAP THE NAVY !

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11453, 2 March 1931, Page 5

SCRAP THE NAVY !

BRITISH EXPERT’S DRASTIC SUGGESTIONS

SHIPS SHOULD BE SMALLER GUN POWER/ MORE IMPORTANT THAN SPEED -- ■ * DESTROYERS AND BIG SUBMARINES USELESS (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) . LONDON, - Feb. 27. Arguments which would result in the scrapping of the whole fleet are advanced forcibly in a book entitled “Navies of To-day and To-morrow’’, by Captain Bernard Ackworth, D.S.O. who is the Morning Post’s naval contributor, and who was for four years on the staff of the Admiralty. He says the British navy should stick to coal as fuel, because a navy dependent on foreigners for power to rnov© is fantastic. The general staff should be disbanded, leaving , the board of the Admiralty again free to deal with policy. No ship should be bigger than 12,000 tons, and we should scrap battle cruisers, carriers, and repair ships which litter the sea, or; more strictly speaking, the docks, where they are perpetually under repair or design. Captain Ackworth thinks an ideal fleet would be 25 battleships of 12,000 tons, with 150 guns, as against 1? with 138 guns; 38 armoured cruisers of 12,000 tons, with 228 guns, as against four with 28 guns; 112 unarm, oured cruisers of 4000 tons, with 672 guns, as against 49 with 124 guns; 160 small cruisers for coastal patrol defence, and 69 sweepers and river gunboats and surveying ships. The author argues that the war taught that gun power was infinitely more important than speed, and considers destroyers and big submarines are a waste of money, while the torpedo is a futile weapon. Captain Ackworth describes the interior of the Rodney and Nelson as more resembling a science museum than a warship. Their triple turrets are unsatisfactory, and one lucky shell might disable all nine guns. Captain 'Ackworth says 10,000 tenners like the Canberra and Australia are not fighting ships at all, but mere boiler cases to which a well-placed 4in. shell might be exceedingly unpleasant,

naval negotiations

BRITAIN, FRANCE AND ITALY.. SEEM TO BE PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY. CU P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 1. 5 p.m.) ROME, Feb.'2B.. A communique from the British Embassy states that an Italo-British agreement has been reached in principle on the oustanding question of the London conference as a result of friendly conversations in a spirit of cordial collaboration between Signor Grandi. Signor Pirianni. Mr. Henderson and Mr. Alexander.' The terms of the pronosed agreement have still to be submitted to the French Government, wherefore Mr. Henderson and Mr! Alexander are going to Paris. Should the French Government agree the proposals will then be submitted to the United States. Japan, Britain and the Dominions. PARTS. Feb. 28..

Mr. Henderson and Mr. Alexander are due to-morrow. They proceed direct to the Qnui 6’Orsite to confer with M. Bnand and M, Dumont., after which they go to London on Mondav.

M. Brinnd told a French correspondent- to-day:—

“I hope a well equipped ship will emerge from the yard of discussions.'’

ROME. Feb. 28

Signor Grandi has issued a statement that King Victor will receive Mr. Henderson ami Mr. Alexander this morning, after which an ’official communique will be issued in reference to the naval' agreement, which has been reached in principle. It is .understood that Mr. Henderson' is going to Paris later in the day with a view to the settlement of details.