New-York tribune., 1921-11-17
high British
|0fficials Favor
| American Plan
|aope Naval Experts Will
Be Able to Give Effect
10 Proposal; Opposition
to Operating Small Plant

-
1 EAsHINGT0N. Nov. l6 (By The As
sss.ed Press Hope that. the British
{-,yal experts would be able to see
st;r way clear to give effect to the
I,merican plan for teu-year naval
.ssdsy was expressed to-day by high
ssTt;sh authorities.
Bus until these experts have eor,-
f.l.sed the exa lination of the American
t..aosition and made their report to
~. British delegates, none of the lat
H. feel that they can express any opin-
H. as to its feasibility. Touching the
Exposition 20 maintain a small con-
REJECTION and repair plant, turning out
3s,kaps one warship each year. it was
1,Smitsed that in the British view there
5sOula be no real naval holiday. 1t is
&.urded as technical matter to be
sasidered by the experts, and it will
h FOR them TO decide
i The reported intention of the jan
Ansse delegation to ask higher ratio
4 navai strength compared with Great
4syssin and the United States than the
la ger cent fixed in the American plan
rvss added interest to statistical com
nrisons Of the three countries.
Extent of Coast Line Factor
Extent of coast line in part deter
lrines the need of naval forces. The
II|uited States has 40,2G6 nautical miles
m coast, as compared with so 1888 for the
asrtish Empire and 2I,94S for Japan.
Nm The basis of their existing and pro
astsed naval fleets, each country would
9tsse for each mile OF coast line as fol-
lass: United States, so tons: British
zgnpire, 40 tons, and Japan, 81.
Population might also be considered
l.sa the figures are:
| United States. 1882 600. including
Assular possessions; British Empire,
ls;a4 900. on the same basis, and
Il,psn, rs, ,o0I.0Oo.
l The density of the populations of the
yaree is:
/ United States, 81 persons per square
I zle: British Empire, 81 persons, and
Ilipan. 299.
l The comparison as TO national wealth
lnns:
! United States, $3.50, 900 ,ooo, 900; Brit
lsh Empire, $3.50, ,000, 100000, and Japan,
lls5 900, ,000, 600.
Statistics for Six Powers
TO convert some of these figures into
! percentage of the average for the six
4sgEers, the British Empire, the United
Ehtes, France, Italy, Japan and China,
he following results are obtained:
The American population per square
bile is SO per cent of the average, per
Iapita national wealth 312 per cent.
&ureign commerce per capita 161 ner
Isnt, expenditures on armed forces per
fapita LOG per cent.
The British Empire shows az per
1sat of the average in population per
Iaxre mile. per capita national wealth
|a per cent, per capita foreign COM
Iarce rs per cent, per capita expendi-
lsres for armed forces 45 per cent.
The Japanese figures against the av-
Israge of population per square mile
3re $40 per cent, per capita national
lvealth "a per cent, per capita foreign
commerce 62 per cent, per capita eX-
Ienditures on armed forces 98 per cent.
Scrap or Sink Vessels
Naval vessels designated for dis
11rding under a limitation of armament
kgreement would have to be scrapped
\. sunk. naval experts declared to-day.
Eo satisfactory method of utilizing
laval vessels for any purpose other
than that for which they were de-
5signed and built has ever been evolved,
fhey said.
Hope of saving the discarded German
seet was voiced in Paris during the
3aeace conference, these officers re-
Ialled, only to be thrown out as i'm
practical The German warships could
bot be used by other countries effec-
lively on account Of design and be-
Pause Of the unusual caliber of am
1nunition required.
Attempts to remodel the German feet
into merchant and passenger ships also
FAILED, naval constructors said, and
asimilar efforts to-day in connection
nth ships of the United States Navy
Isere declared to be equally futile.
With the exception of certain light
1Fuisers. which probably will not be
Nrapped, no naval ships now on the
american list could be remodeled sat-
lsiactorily, in the opinion of naval
apHeers.
Salvaging Costly Work
Salvaging is possible to a certain ex-
eat, it was said, but officers recalled
ast certain former ships of the navy
we're still on sale and that purchasers
sere scarce. An offer for immediate
aivaging of the proposed discards is
ardly to be hoped for by any COM
asreial concern, officers said, because
q existing concern has the facilities
aad labor to undertake SO immense 8
lFoposition. In England the best sal
age offer received is said to have been
Afe-year program, permitting the op-
'iators to work their men when other
sork was slack.
IN efforts TO salvage the old cruiser
'sanessee. later the Memphis, wrecked
santo Domingo a few years ago, =
Vlnt was reached when, although the
smWage amounted to several hundred
s'lars day, the operation costs
saaled the salvage and the project
sss abandoned.
british Limit Would Bar