BIG NAVY POLICY FOR GERMANY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20097, 2 May 1935, Page 9

BIG NAVY POLICY FOR GERMANY

EUROPEAN POWERS SURPRISED NEW RACE IN NAVAL ARMAMENTS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright ROME, April 30. The Italian newspaper ”11 Giornale d’ltalia” reports that Germany has decided on a huge naval programme for 1935-36, which is three times larger than for the previous years. The total tonnage will be 100,000, a®d it will far exceed the Versailles Treaty limits. The programme was decided on three weeks before the proposed Anglo-Ger-man conversations on Germany’s claim for parity with one-third of Britain’s Navy, thus again presenting a fait accompli. The details of the plans are: Battleships—Two 20,000 ton vessels. Cruisers—Two 10,000 ton ships and one 6,000 ton vessel. Destroyers—Sixteen 1,400 ton flotilla leaders, ten 800 ton vessels. The programme also includes 400 to 500 ton submarines, considerably exceeding the 12 for which orders have been placed. Thus by 1938, the German naval strength will be 166,000 tons, excluding submarines.

PLANNING NAVAL POLICY ANGLO-GERMAN TALKS POSTPONED British Official Wireless RUGBY, April 30. Under the provisional arrangements for the Anglo-German preliminary naval conversations, it was contemplated that the German delegates would visit London about the second week In May, but the date of the opening of the talks has been left to the German authorities. It is now understood that in view of the fact that Herr Hitler proposes to make an important announcement on Germany’s foreign policy on or about May 15, a request for a further postponement of the conversations has been received. Sir John Simon, Foreign Secretary, was asked in the House of Commons whether, in view of the German Government’s Intimation regarding the building of submarines, it is proposed to proceed with the conversations. He replied that the position was under consideration. Newspaper reports from Berlin state that the British Government knew of the German Government's plans some weeks ago.

NAVAL POLICY IN BALTIC RACE FOR SUPREMACY United Press Association—By Electric Tel egraph —Copyright LONDON, April 30. “The Daily Express” says:—“Germany’s submarine building programme has led to a race for naval supremacy in the Baltic. M. Voroshilov, Soviet War Minister, has summoned a conclave of high navai chiefs in Moscow. He pointed out the danger to the Soviet of a powerful German fleet in the Baltic, which would separate Russia from France, and Russia’s' Black Sea fleet from the Baltic. The Naval Council drew up a construction plan for immediate submission to M. Josef Stalin, President of the Soviet Union. The Council stresses the necessity for rapid construction of submarines and warships at Kronstadt. The British United Press Berlin correspondent, however, emphasises that Germany has spent so much building 2000 aeroplanes that she will have no money for a big naval programme in the near future. The German naval theory envisages the combination of small submarines and fast, light destroyers about Skagerrak to guard the Baltic approaches.