NAVAL ARMAMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19239, 1 August 1924, Page 7

NAVAL ARMAMENTS

ELEVATION OF AMERICAN GUNS. OPPOSITION BY GREAT BRITAIN. Pxcm Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, July 30. (Received July 31, at' 9.15 p.m.) ■ Britain’s representation against the ship modernisation plan of the United States may bring to a head a controversy that has stirred naval circles here almost continuously since the adjournment of the Arms Conference. Officials decline to comment on the London announcement of the British move, or to indicate the policy of the United States. They will carefully, study the subject before replying to London. It is recalled that modernisation, including a change of gun elevation, was recommended to Congress by Mr Harding, and Mr Dcnby (then Naval Secretary) declared the proposal to be of vital importance to national defence. It was pointed out that many British warships already had gun ranges comparable with those requested for the United States.—Reuter. The London correspondent of the New York Sun wrote some time ago: “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) maintains that any such changes by the United States would be the sigpal for other countries to do likewise, and thus the spirit of the Washington Treaty would be disobeyed.’’ The correspondent added: “Naval officers 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 Administration.”