NAVAL EXPERTS DIFFER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 89, 6 July 1927, Page 9

NAVAL EXPERTS DIFFER

BRITISH SCHEME OPPOSED CRUISERS AND DESTROYERS !By Cable. —Press Association.-—Copyright LONDON, Monday. The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that unless a compromise is reached when the leaders of the Naval Arms Limitation Conference meet in private there may be an abrupt ending to the conference. The British delegates have proposed a maximum for cruisers and destoryers of 800,000 tons, of which 590.000 tons would apply to cruisers. The proposers argue that Britain needs 70 cruisers to protect her trade routes. At present she has 71 either built, or being constructed, or laid down. Against Britain’s 71 cruisers America has only 15 of recent construction. aud would thus require to build 56, at a cost of £2.000.000 each. The Dominion delegates support the British proposal. Japan is anxious to maintain the 10,000-ton cruisers, whereas Britain wants a reduction to 7,500 tons. —A and N.Z. AMERICA’S IDEA POWERS’ INDIVIDUAL NEEDS SEABORNE CARGO GENEVA, Monday. As the American delegates to the Naval Arms Limitation Conference wer£ desirous of celebrating Independence Day yesterday no meeting of the conference was held. Admiral Jones, in addressing a large gathering, utilised the occasion to explain America’s naval policy. He said when the United States in the war period became a great sea Power she foresaw the danger of a shipbuilding race. The then Secretary of State, Mr. C. E. Hughes, was too optimistic in hoping for an agreement to limit capital ships and also to stop cruiser competition. The last few years had been marked by cruiser building in w’hich the United States had not participated) to an extent which threatened to become almost as costly as the earlier battleship race. “We are here to extend the Washington principle,” said Admiral Jones, “but also to allow sufficient latitude to enable a Power to build vessels in each class according to her individual needs.” Citing trade figures apropos of Britain’s long line of communications, the speaker said America’s aggregate domestic 'seaborne commerce totalled nearly 170 million tons a year, which was half as large again as that of Britain.—A. and N.Z.