AMERICAN NAVAL PROPOSAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19048, 19 December 1923, Page 7

AMERICAN NAVAL PROPOSAL.

TO INCREASE RANGE OF GUNS. BRITISH SAILORS SURPRISED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 17. British sailors are surprised at the intention of the United States Government to appropriate 6,500,0u0 dollars for the purpose of elevating the guns and turrets and giving the guns an increased range. A similar proposal was previously withdrawn, when it was proved, in 19Z2, contrary to the belief in America, that Britain was not raising the turrets. The recent statement that the elevation does not contravene the spirit or the letter of the Washington Treaty conflicts with Mr Harding’s views. Legal experts differ regarding the interpretation of certain clauses of the treaty.—The Times. It was reported some time ago that President Harding had returned from his vacation to find the State and Navy Departments clashing on the question of the elevation of guns for American capital ships, and the President and the Cabinet would have to judge the controversy. The correspondent of the New York Sun said: “The Navy Department will not yield in its viewpoint that a change in gun elevation should be made in 13 ships. On the contrary, while the State Department does not contend that gun elevation and range increases are precluded by the Washington Treaty, Mr C. E. Hughes (Secretary of State does maintain that any such changes by the United States would be the signal for other countries to do likewise, and thus the spirit of the Washington Treaty would be disobeyed. The correspondent added: “Naval otncers are so vigorous in demanding that the Navy’s efficiency should be increased that the controversy may become one of the most important which have confronted the Harding Administration.” Last April Mr Denby (Secretary to the Navy) stated that the elevation of the guns of the United States warships would not be undertaken unless Congress approved. He declared that while a dis.iy did exist between the British am 1 American ranges, it had been greatly exaggerated. The facts would be (submitted to Congress, which would have to determine whether 6,6U0,0UJ dollars appropriated last session tor gun elevation would be used for that purpose or not.