BRITISH NAVY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18831, 20 March 1931, Page 9

BRITISH NAVY.

WASHINGTON TYPE OF CRUISERS. United Press Association—By Electrlo Tel egrapn—Copyright LONDON, March 18. The "Dally Telegraph” understands that, irrespective of Treaty obligations, no more of the Washington type of cruisers, like the Australia and Canberra, will be constructed for the British Navy. They constitute a hybrid type, born of political expediency. They have been tried and found wanting. They are condemned by the highest naval opinion, as they reproduce, in exaggerated style, all the defects of our early battle cruisers, three of which blew up at Jutland, under Are from more lightly armed ships. The "Telegraph” recalls Mr Berry's criticism, and adds that there is no question of scrapping the present 10,000 tonners, but the type is dead. This is an encouraging sign that the Admiralty has at last broken from the artificial standards established by the Washington Treaty, and is now seeking to build ships adapted to the needs of the Empire. NAVAL DRAFTING COMMITTEE. AMERICA AND JAPAN STAND OUT United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 19, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 19. The diplomatic correspondent of the* "Daily Telegraph” says that America and Japan have refused to participate in the work of the Naval Drafting Committee. Thus it will apply purely to the Anglo-Franco-Italian agreement, which might even be reduced to a Franco.-Italian agreement, with British general approval and reservation concerning the right to increase destroyer tonnage, if the Disarmament Conference does not reduce France’s submarine tonnage below eighty-two thousand. OIL FROM COAL. United Press Electrlo T«1 egraph—Ceprrlrcht (Received March 19, 7.0 p.m.) LONDON, March 19. In the House of Commons, Mr E. Shinwell (Financial Secretary) said that if suitable oil could be produced from coal in sufficient quantities and at a reasonable price, the Admiralty .would certainly buy.