NAVAL RIVALRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21358, 6 December 1932, Page 9

NAVAL RIVALRY

FRANCE AND ITALY REACHING ACUTE POSITION COMPETITION IN CRUISERS NO TREATY RESTRICTIONS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Dec. 5 (Received December 5, 11.5 p.m.) The naval correspondent of the Daily Telegraph states that shipbuilding rivalry between Fiance and Italy is becoming acute and the new race is a difficulty confronting the Disarmament Conference. Italy had previously warned France that if the, Dunkerque was laid down she would be compelled to build a similar vessel. The competition has been carried a stage further by Signor Mussolini's order to construct two more cruisers of the Condottiere class, raising the total to 12. the last four being of 7000 tons. Within seven years Italy has constructed or ordered 19 cruisers, only three fewer than the British Empire. During eight years Italy and France built 38 cruisers, 96 destroyers and 135 submarines, a total lar exceeding the combined output of tho British Empire and the United States. Not being parties to the London naval treaty, Franco and Italy are free to build as much light tonnage as they please. JAPANESE AEROPLANISS SIX NAVAL MACHINES GIFT OF WEALTHY WIDOW (Received December 5, 11.5 p.m.) TOKIO, Dec. 5 Six naval aeroplanes, costing*!,ooo,ooo yen, donated by the widow of a wealthy merchant, were commissioned to-day at the Haneda airport.