PROPOSED SUBMARINE CONSTRUCTION ABANDONED.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 11 December 1914, Page 5

PROPOSED SUBMARINE CONSTRUCTION ABANDONED.

BRITISH AND AMERICAN

SHIPPING

UNITED STATES DEFENCE

(Received Dec. 11, 10.30 a.m.)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10

Mr Bryan has announced that in deference to President Wilson's opinion the United States Steel Company has abandoned plans for constructing submarines; for belligerents.

Mr Page has handed the Government British regulations under which the wool embargo can be lifted, and also a note as to how American shipping can avoid interference by British

warships

Mr Bryan indicated that both were unsatisfactory.

Mr Fletcher considers that the American fleet is able to meet any war fleet in the world except the British. The United States ought to build more than two battleships yearly, as the German programme of construction will soon out-distance the United States. In the event of a conflict with Japan, the United States would uadoubtedly be able to control the seas, but he felt unable to assert that the United States would be able to hold the Philippines and defend Hawaii. A large number of American submarines now available for active service were undergoing repairs. It was now possible for submarines of hostile Powers to cross the Atlantic jind attack

American ships