GERMAN CLAIMS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19827, 3 January 1939, Page 7

GERMAN CLAIMS

CAUSE OF UNEASINESS BUILDING OF SUBMARINES EQUALITY WITH BRITAIN DENUNCIATION OF TREATY (Elec Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dee. 31, 2.10 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 30. The Australian Associated Press say.s that although it is claimed the move is not as serious as appears on the surface, the German announcement, of the intention to exorcise the right under the London naval treaties of 1935 and 1937 to build a tonnage of submarines equal to the total British submarine tonnage has caused uneasiness.

It is recalled lihat the inclusion of these rights in the first agreement was much criticised at the time ol signing and was regarded as the price payable for an otherwise satisfactory treat v.

Germany has acted in strict accordance with the treaty by advising her intentions within the time limit. The first and most important claim concerns the right to submarine tonnage equal to instead of only 45 per cent of the total British submarine tonnage. An important provision of the treaty which is not revocable is that the total German tonnage of all classes must not exceed 35 per cent or the British tonnage. Therefore, if Germany is building more submarines, .she must cult down her other categories. Big Tonnage Required It is believed that Germany would require to devote a tonnage of 45,000 to submarines to enable her to equal the present British tonnage, which is about 70,000, representing an increase of 20,000 compared with the total at the time the treaty was signed.

it is estimated that the numbers of submarines owned by the principal Powers at present are: Russia, 150; United States, 84; France, 75; Italy, 74; Japan, 57; United Kingdom, 43; Germany, 17 large and 24 small. A second German claim concerns the restriction under the agreement of 1937 regarding cruisers with a maximum displacement of 10.000 tons and a maximum armament of eight inches, Germany being restricted to three such unless Russia builds over live.