The Washington herald., 1921-11-19
Order Is Disclaimed by
Admiralty, But Public
Shows Approval.
DIPLOMATIC STEP,
OFFICIALS SAY
Building of Cruisers and
Submarines Will Be
Continued.

widely divergent views In Eng
land over the order emanating
form Downing Street under which
construction of four superbattle-
ships of the Hood type is suspend
ID under further instructions from
The admiralty"
The first. held by government
1fTicials, the press and the public
generally. is that the decision Of
The government is master stroke
of diplomacy" as illustrating the
good faith of Great Britain in her
acceptance of the principle OF
limitation as la down by Secre-
AIRY Hughes.
Causes Dismsy in Admiralty.
The second is that which would
have been expected from admiralty
circles. a feeling of dismay and irri-
tation at the order. Officials of the
navy department. in spite of semi
official statements that the tempo
AIRY halting of warship construc-
tion is the "logcal outcome" OF
events of the past week in Wash
ngton. feel that the action should
rave been delayed until definite de-
.isions regarding disarmament are
reached and agreed to.
The admiralty disclaims any con-
nection with the order and de-
.lares that the premier's notifica-
:'on reached headquarters without
explanation. Letters were imme-
liately sent to the construction
arms notifying them not to incur
Iny more liabilities for the build
ing of the vessels until further
Instructions are issued by the ad-
.iralty."
welcomed by Public.
The press and central pubic, on
he other hand, have greeted the
order with a feeling of vast rellef
md as a forerunner of a lessening
n raval expenditures which should
Eork to the economic good Of the
country.
Officially it is stated that the
,toppage of construction is Eng
and first step 10 prove that she Is
lesirous of disarming in accord
tnce with the Hughes program" 1t
would be noted that the order for
cessation is so worded that con-
;truction could be resumed at any
moment.
As an example of the navy view
on. member of the admiralty today
aeld that definite results from the
conference should be attained be-
fore work ceased on the new Ves-
sels, and pointed out that the United
states itself has not halted lts
building program, although tne
limitation proposals came IRON
Washington.
Due to Balfour's Action.
But you can never tell wha'
politicians are going to do" he con-
tfnued. Arthur Balfour's accept
ance of the United States program
N incipIe'-whatever that means
probably brought about issuance
Of the order"
II is learned. incidentally, that
although Great Britain is at pres
snt constructing five light cruisers
and seven submarines, no order sus-
pending operations on these ship:
is expected since they are near
completion.
"LIoyd George has demonstrated
not only Great Britain's good faith
but his confidence in the success
full outcome of the conference" l.
the usual comment in political cir
cles.
The government loses nothing by
the move. II is pointed out that
the order is not a direct cancella-
ton Of contracts which would en-
tail indemnifying the firms now al
work on the construction, but mere
Iv one of suspension pending the
result of the Washington parley.
Delay Could Be Made Up.
If no agreement is reached in
America, England will have suf-
fered merely a slight delay, which
could easily be made up by inten-
sive work in the yards at the River
CLYDE and Newcastle-on-T
The four vessels affected by the
order are described as Improved
Hoods" each of which would cost
the empire f7,O0o,000.
Although the admiralty has hith-
,rto maintained close secrecy re-
rarding the specifications of the new
lighting machines, IL IS learned that
he designers intended to combine
he defensive armor of the greater
,attleships with the speed of bat
lie cruisers. Each ship would ap-
,roximate 10000 tons, and would
iave a speed approaching 35 knots
IN hour. 1t was planned to arm
hem with sixteen-inch guns, which
lave recently been found practi-
able.
Because of the speed and the gen.
rraI lines on which they were to
rave been built. the ships were ON
dally designated by the admiralty
Is "super-battle cruisers"
workers Seriously Affected.
The immediate reaction along the
clyde is one of depression. The
ornament firm Of Beardmores will
lose. the Parkhead Steel Works will
lump it's fires to morrow-the fires
which were lighted only a week ago
after a long illness. Workers on
he Clyde are most seriously af-
'ected. Three years of steady work
lad been expected, involving a dis
ribution of wages amounting to
15.OOO,OOO
The total number of unemployed
Ecrkers a. Sheffield Is now 10000,
nd the new order will increase the
vumber
NIn spite OF the admiralty's decla-
ktion that the order came from
Downing Street, officials at the pre-
nier's residence refuse to admit or
.eny that Lloyd George was respon-
flTa for fha dacfainn