Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-03-15
+ RANCE And
ITALY EAGER
FOR WARSHIPS
Two Nations Do Not Want to
See German Vessels De-
StrOyed, as Figure Great
Need Exists for Them!
BY NABoTH HEDIN.
Staff Correspondent of Universal
.... Service,
Especial Cable Dlspatch.l

NepechA Nhnle blhputch,l
Paris, March l2.--Although II Il
fairly certain that neither Britain
nor the United States will iucorpor.
ate any German warshps in their
fleets, both because they consider
the German vessels ipadaptable and
prefer new constructions, while, in
addition, neither would accept such
an increase for the other comment
in France and Italy, who must prac.
tice more economy in building new
units, still expresses the conviction
that these two countries, at least
should have goodly portion of the
German ships.
"How can we ask our parliament
for more money for warships after
sinking the German heet?" asks
Georges Leygues, the French minis
ter of marine, disregarding the
warnings that the German battle
ships are white elephants" the up.
keep Of which would cost more thar
new boats. That assertion remains
to be proved, say the French and
Italians. ".
In lie Journal, M. Laubeuff, for
mer chief engineer Of the French
navy, writes that not only have the
French lost boats during the war,
but are unable to construct new
ones, while other countries are
building faster than ever
France is therefore entitled, he ar
CUES, to a larger share in order TO
recover relative pre-war strength,
Take, for example," he continues,
"the destroyerS. SiXty-hve have
been surrendered, 50 by the Ger
mans and IS by the Austrians. Dur
ing the war Britain lost about 40.
France Is, Italy three or four, and
the United States one or two.
"But on the other hand the British
destroyer feet was increased by $50
the French by IA, of which ten were
bought from Japan and four requisi-
toned from French private builders
for Argentine, the Italian by 22, and
the American by about 3d. which
makes it appear logical we should
receive the majority of the enemy
destroyers. The same argument is
valid for other types of warships.
"There is another class ! have not
Submarine. ! should not
be surprised if England might con-
sent TO distribute all other kinds
of ships among the allies, letting
each utilize its share as seen fit, but
| feel strongly inclined to the belief
that the British admiralty desires
to maintain for submarines its .reso-
luton to sink them.
"Fot these boats we can accept the
British view even less than Tor the
others"
France has a long coast line to
defend, while her colonies are most
" near. She, therefore, considers
the value Of submarines from de-
fensive viewpoint differently than
does Britain.
Another slight difference between
the French and British views con-
Germs cdnscription. While Premier
Lloyd George is resolved to abolish
CONSUMPTION throughout Germany to
please British home sentiment, which
favors the volunteer system, the
French are less convinced that the
German menace can thus be RE-
1t is known that a well
trained small volunteer force is
easily expanded into large army
with such material as Germany has
in her youth. AS regards abolition
Of conscription everywhere, lie
Journal saws editoriallv:
Lloyd George ought to know
French mentality we'll enough to
realize we will never consent to the
return of a professional army"
It is believed that when President
Wilson arrives such differences as
.hese will be easily solved, all dele
gates being in a conciliatory mood,
ireading stupendous social upheav-
lis il small chickering's delay peace.