RACE FOR ARMAMENTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 October 1925, Page 5

RACE FOR ARMAMENTS

A NOTABLE YEAR.

BIG POWERS BUSY. POWERFUL SHIPS BUILT. BY CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. Received Oct. 13, 10. 35 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 12. The Daily News says that the year 1925 has been notable for the immense new naval tonnage, the greatest in any post-war year. Already three hundred thousand tons have gone afloat, which is equivalent to twelve pre-war dreadnoughts. Britain, building 70,000 tons, represented by the battleships Nelson and Rodney (the latter which is to bo launched on December 17), and three monster aircraft carriers account for 93,000 tons, while America has the Saratoga and Lexington and Japan the Akagi. The remainder of the tonnage consists of smaller but more deadly craft, such as fast, heavily-gunned cruisers, which will be more effective m preying upon commerce than defending it: also giant destroyers and swarms of submarines. The latter is so numerous that it is difficult to keep count of the launchings. France is building 25 and has ordered 36 more; Japan is building 12 and has ordered 16; Italy is building 20; Britain contemplates 24; while America has just launched two of the largest submarines in the world and has ordered three. Since the Washington Conference, the five Powers' programmes include two battleships, four aircraft carriers, 53 cruisers, 144 destroyers, and 154 submarines, at a total cost of three hundred million pounds. It is impossible to conceive a more ironical commentary on the Washington Naval Limitations Treaty. Clearly a new shipbuilding rivalry has developed, and there is a strong argument for holding a second conference. —Sydney Sun Cable.