DISARMAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16495, 4 August 1921, Page 7

DISARMAMENT.

BRITAIN’S NAVAL POLICY. FOUR NEW CRUISERS TO BE BUILT. ASQUITH DOUBTS THE COMMITMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received August 4, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, August 3. Colonel L. C. M. S. Amery (Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty), in the House of Commons, submitting the Naval Estimates, including a provision for four capital ships, said the latter was not a policy of competition or a challenge, but was simply a replacement of obsolete ships. A few hours’ actual fighting in the late war had sufficed to revolutionise ideas as to the necessary type of battleship. Other Powers were not slow to make use of that experience. There were at present under construction whole battle fleets of a type incomparably more powerful than any afloat at the battle of Jutland. Japan would have eight completed by 1925 and eight more by 1928, while the United States would have twelve of these supreme engines of war, eacli over 43,000 tons, completed by 1925. The construction of four ships could not, under the circumstances. be regarded as provocative. (’ontrari wse, the Admiralty might be open to the charge of allowing the Navy to fall below the standard of other Powers. This -was a risk that was only justified by the general financial situation, and the desirability of avoiding any step inviting competition in armaments, on the eve of a conference whose object was to avoid competition. (Cheers.) In the matter of design, we were not trying to steal a march on other Powers, but were only bringing ourselves up to date with modern developments. The new ships would be battle cruisers of the Hood type, but would be improved in regard to armaments and protection. In the light of war experience they would be . equipped witli l(jin guns. I he day of the capital ship, the submarine or the aeroplane had not yet arrived. Therefore the capital ship remains the pivot ol naval warfare. Tne ships would he constructed in private yards, as the Government dockyards were not large enough for ships of tlie Hood size. It was intended, as soon as the finances permit, that the Government dockyards would be brought up to date. Mr Asquith referred to a resolution by the Imperial Conference deferring the commitment of the naval policy until after the result of the Washington Conference. He gravely doubted if it was necessary or wise to commit ! ourselves to these new ships. He put their cost at £30.000.000. which was a serious commitment at the moment.