The New York herald., 1921-11-16
Plan EFFECTIVE,
GERMAN ADMIRALS
No Nation in Future Could
Rule the Waves, Won
Scheer Asserts.
NO ONE CAN OUTBUILD
Ten Year Holiday and Re-
tirement of Old Ships
a Relief.
SEES MANY DIFFICULTIES
Brueninghaus Mentions Sub
marines, Aircraft and Forts
Among Obstacles Ahead.
Special Cable to THE New YoRK HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, By THE New YORK HERALD.
II.

Special Cable to THE New YoRK HERALD.
Copyright, 1891, by THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau
Berlin, Nov. Is.
THE American naval limitation
proposals most effectively tackle the
problem Of reducing the great cost of
modern navies, is the message Ad-
miral Reinhardt Won Scheer, German
Commander at the Skagerrack fight,
sends to The New York HERALD.
Another commentator Of the plan
enunciated by Secretary Hughes comes
from Rear Admiral R. Brueninghaus,
now member Of the Reichstag, who
expressed the belief that the "ener-
getic proposals are Of real service to
the world, and do more to bring about
reconciliation of peoples than the
League of Nations, with it's semblance
of an alliance between victorious Eu-
ropean nations"
Should the Washington conference
adopt the American programme, Ad-
miral Won Scheer declared. it would
mean that in the future no nation
would be able to obtain dominion over
the seas, for an agreement between
England, Japan and the United States
would imply the suppression of any
effort by an outsider to outstrip them
in naval building.
The construction of battleships is
unavoidably an unbusinesslike propo-
sition, he pointed out because new
improvements condemn existing units
10 destruction before their real dura-
bility would otherwise warrant and
require replacement by types always
more expensive.
Breaks Endless Chain.
THE endless chain would be broken
temporarily by ten year naval holi-
day, he continued. "At the same time,
the retirement of old ships, without per-
nitting their substitution, would bring
relief from the burden of operating ex-
penses. By coming to an understanding,
the naval Powers will get an adjusted
ratio of strength which will conform
TO their naval interests. If America,
England and Japan consent to cut down
their fleets. no other naval nation will
be able to build bigger fleet without
offering provocation to one of these three
countries, and since all three of them
Will have an interest in the agreement.
the effort by the fourth Power to out
build them would be suppressed. So far
% fitfi r1o aIxf e.,
in the seas is concerned, it would be.
doomed to failure.
'"The reduction of armament expendi-
tures Is intended to help remove the
danger of war that turks In armaments.
1t Is a part of the same principle how
ever-obviously affecting relations be-
tween France and Germany-that land
armament should not insure any single
Power so much strength as would
threaten the vital interests of other
peoples
President Harding says that no
people shall renounce their individual
and natural rights. That statement
limits war to a high ethical task which
js unacceptable in the life of peoples.
Forms Of warfare will have to be
adopted for this task. 1t Is only by
fighting with arms as such that people
can manifest strength when forced to
claim just rights. The world war de-
veloped into an economic fight and dis
nstrously drew on-combatants into the
conflict. BY such methods war loses it's
character as high moral act and Is re-
duced to the level Of blackmail and rob-
berry.
For Abolition of Naval Prizes.
Only when private property is re-
spected In naval warfare will there be
assured the comforting feeling that war
is only an extraordinary phenomenon.
IT the Washington conference should ar
rive at decision to recognize the rights
OF private property at sea II would de-
rive lasting advantage in the elimina-
tion of armaments. If naval prizes are
abolished fleets will have to reach de-
cisions by combat and fighting will be
spared as a noble form OF State neces-
slty."
Rear Admiral BruenInghaus takes It
for granted that England and Japan will
accept the American proposal in prin-
ciple, but doubts whether ten year In
terruption of naval building is rracti-
cable.
1T would condemn the naval ship
building industry to death and increase
the great number OF unemployed" he
said "The science of warship con-
ntruction would be broughs 60 stand
attn and SO degenerate
He also criticized the use Of tonnage
rs fixing tho standard Of efficiency
The Lesson OF the world war, and espe-
cially Of the Skagerrack, was that only
spao ships as have the fighting value
which develops attack and defense to
she highest point are worth while. he
continued
Rear Admiral Brueninghaus doubted
" England could leave the question of
the number of submarines In commits
sion undiscussed.
Japan cannot be content with an un-
tIted aircraft building programme"
hc said, because of the fact that her
cities. on account Of their flimsy con-
struction, would have more to suffer
from air raids than those of any other
land
Japan will also be sure TO force de-
bate on the question of American fortifi-
cations In the Pacific Ocean. Thus. al
though the American programme may
be accepted In principle. there are
many difficulties in the way before II Is
realizablo."