NAVAL ARMAMENTS

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 17

NAVAL ARMAMENTS

BID FOR WORLD SUPREMACY. LONDON, February 19. The naval correspondent of The Times supplies an important analysis of the effect on American shipbuilding of the amendment by Congress limiting the expenditure Ip warships vrider construction. He disputes the present idea that this applies to the capital ships of the 1916 programme, and says that the keels of ail the six battleships are in position, thus assuring America’s preponderance iin ships of the latest and most powerful type—indeed, unless Britain undertakes immediate big ship construction America’s 1916 pro gramme will give her incon parably the biggest navy in the world. The first four battleships ore already far advanced, and, according to reliable information here, the Work on the remaining six battleships and six battle cruisers is in full swing. Ail will be completed by 1924 ; then America will have 12 post-Jutland capital ships, whilst the only comparable vessel m Britain’s navy will be the Hood. The reduction in America’s naval personnel leaves the following figures.- America, 131,751 ; Britain, 131,160. 'The correspondent does not suggest that there should be a decision regarding naval policy until the June Conference; but he significantly remarks that there is a vast difference between the pre-Jutland and the post-Jutland ships—indeed, it is argued that the difference is similar to that between the Dreadnoughts and pre-Dread-noughts. It is calculated that America will have 286 destroyers and Britain- 195 , but Britain will have 105 modern submarines against America’s 94. SURFACE SHIPS AND SUBMARINES. LONDON, February 19. Admiral Von Tirpitz, writing in the Get man Gazette, says that America in the next world war expects surface ships to retain their importance with improved protection of the submerged parts. Submarines wifi remain as adjuncts, but of m creasing importance, and with an increased number of greatly-improved long-range, guns only. VIEWS OF AMERICAN ADMIRAL. NEW YORK, February 22. Rear admiral Hay, the new Commandant of the New Fork Navy Yard, declared at Cincinatti that if the United States stopped building battleships it would be because some other nation had not the money to build and wanted the United States to quit. ‘I know, ’’he said, “that some of you will catch your breath if I say we must have a navy large enough to fight England. In England there is an open discussion as to what kind of navy is needed in case of trouble with the United States. ' “We must know in the navy,” he added, “against whom we are to build ships so that we can construct different ships against Japan from those against England.” A NOTE OF WARNING. LONDON, February 26. (Received Feb. 27, at 5.5 p.m.) Mr Henry Bell, a director of Lloyd's Bank, who took part in the International Financial Conference in Brussels, states that Europe will inevitably reach a state of bankruptcy unless her warlike expenditure is reduced. Economic rehabilitation is impossible until this has soaked into the minds of the people. It was a curious paradox that Germany and Austria were being saved this economic waste. The Allies virtually said to them : “ You must not spend money on war preparations. We will spend it.” MR HARDING’S VIEW. WASHINGTON, February 26. Mr Harding has advised the Senate Republican leaders that he desires adequate appropriations for the navy. He favours continuing the present building programme without material reductions. Mr Harding has not indicated his position regarding Senator Borah’s resolution on the subject of the disarmament, the vote on which was blocked this week. It is expected that the resolution will die with the expiration of the session, but the Senate leaders are of opinion that Mr Harding will favour a reduction of armaments if a general agreement among tliei nations is obtainable.