STRENGTH OF NAVIES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20465, 4 April 1938, Page 7

STRENGTH OF NAVIES

the size of ships HOPE TO AVOID RACE BRITAIN" AND UNITED STATES (Official Wireless) RUGBY, April 2 Commenting upon the notification by Britain and the United States of their intention three months hence to abrogate the 33,000 ton and J6in. gun limits for battleships provided for under the London Naval Treaty, IQ3G, the Times says: “There is a bare possibility of developments in the three months’ breathing space provided by the treaty which make unnecessary the action now suggested. No Power, presumably, desires to restart competition in the size of ships and their armament, which was stayed by the Washington Treaty of 1922. Even Japan, herself, with whom responsibility for the resumption of the race must be, has repeatedly disclaimed any such desire, and she is lively to suffer from it more than any other Power. National Security “It is only the conviction that national security will be prejudiced by Tiny failure to follow the suit of others that drives the Governments to incur the enormous costs involved in the abandonment of the limits. Failing negotiations between the treaty Powers during the next three months for some new limitation or failing a definite assurance that no cause for escalation exists, the United State will proceed to the construction of battleships subject to no limits. Other treaty Powers will hereupon acquire the right to do the same, but it does not follow that they will exercisq it. “As far as Britain is concerned, the fact that the United States is building 40,000 to 45,000-ton battleships provides no sort of reason for TOllowing suit. To public opinion in England the possibility of war with America ceased long ago to be even conceivable.” MANOEUVRES IN PACIFIC UNITED STATES’ PLAN ALLEGATIONS BY JAPANESE United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright TOKIO, April 1 The area In which the American naval manoeuvres have been planned in the Pacific is believed to be revealed in reports from Japan's mandated islands in the South Pacific to the effect that a warship of unknown nationality approached an island in the Trak group early on March 24 and played two searchlights on the island. As no Japanese warships are in the neighbourhood it is assumed that the American manoeuvres will be held in the Western Pacific beyond the international date line and within an area covering Wake, Samoa and Phoenix islands. The Kukomin Shimbun says: “This demonstrates that the United States Navy is planning trans-oceanic operaCONFERENCE OF EXPERTS BRITAIN, FRANCE AND AMERICA COMMON LEVEL OF TONNAGE (Omciai Wireless) RUGBY, April 1 A conference will open shortly in London of English. American and F enc • xp< rts to d< ':-!*■ on a I’onimrr level of tonnasr? and guns of new jsl ps, In ri idiness to lay them down in three months. It is gathered that the Americans are more anxious to build bigger ships than Britain, which docs not desire to exceed 42,500 tons.