NAVAL STRENGTH

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20693, 31 December 1938, Page 8

NAVAL STRENGTH

DEMANDS BY GERMANY UNEASINESS IN BRITAIN GREATER SUBMARINE POWER (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 31, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 30 The Australian Associated Press says that although it is claimed that the move is not as serious as appears on the surface Germany’s announcement of her intention to exercise the right under the London naval treaties of 1035 and 1937 to build tonnage of submarines equal to the total of the British submarine tonnage has caused uneasiness. It is recalled that the inclusion of these rights in the first agreement was much criticised at the time of the signing, being regarded as the price payable for an otherwise satisfactory treaty. Germany has acted in strict accordance with the treaty by advising her intention within the time limit. The first and most important claim concerns the right to enual instead of 45 per cent of the total British submarine tonnage. An important provision of the treaty that is unrevocable is that the total German tonnage of all classes must not exceed 35 per cent of the British, Therefore if Germany is building more submarines she must cut down the other categories. It is believed that Germany will require to devote 45,000 tonnage to submarines to enable her to equal the present British tonnage, which is about 70,000, representing an increase of 20,000 tons on that existing at the time the treaty was signed. Strength of Powers It Is estimated that the number of submarines owned by the principal Powers at present is:—Russia 150, United States 84, France 75, Italy 74, Japan 57, the United Kingdom 43, Germany 17 large and 24 small. The second German claim concerns restriction under the agreement of 1937 regarding cruisers with a maximum displacement of 10,000 tons and a maximum armament of eight inches. Germany is restricted to three such unless Russia built over five.