NAVAL STRENGTH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 November 1924, Page 5

NAVAL STRENGTH.

POSITION OF UNITED STATES

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT. WASHINGTON, Nov. 10. William Shearer, whose charges that the United States had excessively reduced its naval armament were confirmed by Mr. Theodore Roosevelt (Assistant Secretary of the Navy), has obtained a temporary injunction, arguable on Friday, restraining Mr. Wilbur from sinking the new super-dreanought Washington in accordance with the naval limitation treaty. Mr. Shearer alleges that the destruction of the battleship will cause a loss of 30,000,000 dollars to taxpayers, adding that the Arms Conference treaties were not ratified by all the signatories, and he argeus that these treaties are inoperative unless completely and universally ratified.; Mr. Shearer suggests that the Washington should be converted into an airplane carrier until Congress clarifies the treaty obligations.

He says the treaties permit Britain and the United States a maximum capital ship tonnage of 528,000 each, but Britain continues to maintain 711,000 and has failed to scrap four vessels which the -treaties made it obligatory for her to destroy upon the completion of'the. two new shijis, the Rodney and the Nelson. Mr. Shearer’s charges have caused no concern to the Navy Department, which plans to sink the. Washington by detonating high explosive bombs within a designated radius’ after which she will he used as a target for gunfire if still afloat.