Evening star., 1921-11-27
"A B c. POWERS MAY
HAVE NAVAL HOLIDAY
Some Sort Of Agreement Likely to Be
Result of Example Set by the
Washington Conference.

only feasible coaling station in that
part of the Pacific. she was put con-
stant1y on her guard against the at
tempts by German vessels to put into
her ports for coal and supplies
She would occupy an important posi-
tion as q neutral or as an ally in any
war which would lead to the use Of
navies on the Pacific. And she unques-
with this Importance and with her own
coast line.
As stated in this column In a previous
article. land disarmament would per
haps constitute the most far-reaching
effect In South America OF any agree
ment reached at the Washington con-
ference. While Chile. Argentina and
Brazil maintain the only navies OF i'm
portance. the other republics of South
America have armies which are large
In proportion to their population. The
expense Is large. out OF keeping with
] the necessity, for in South America to-
day. with only one exception. there are
no disputes which threaten war. Fifteen
per cent Of Argentina's annual budget,
| for instance. is devoted to armament
In other republics the proportion is
larger.
Central America is already taking
steps to cut down the expense of MAIN
| tanning armies, for in the new republic,
composed of Guatemala, Honduras and
disbanded, and one small army main
tanned only for necessary patrol and
police duty.
The naval strength Of Argentina. Bra
, zil and Chile, according to recent fig
ures, follows:
| predreadnaughts, four armored cruisers.
one fight cruiser, submarines and air
| planes.
| Brazil-Two dreadnaughts, two coast
defense cruisers, two light cruisers, one
| smaller cruiser, submarines and air
| planes.
| Chile-One predreadnaught, two cruis-
ers, four protected cruisers, submarines
and destroyers and fleet of 100 air
planes.
The Auto Club of Argentina is advo-
eating the construction of an extensive
system of highways throughout the
! country, according to reports TO the
! department of commerce from Buenos
Aires, and next May the first national
road congress will be held in Buenos
| Aires, which is expected to result in
considerable activity in road building.
| 1t is planned to connect the principal
| cities of the country by modern high
| ways and increase facilities for trans
portation by the use of motor trucks
and automobiles.
! group of Italian capitalists, and
| aviation experts is to establish a regu-
| lar aerial transport service between
! Buenos Aires and Montevideo. The
, capital to be invested will be about
s., 10000 Three Caproni type airplanes.
| with a carrying capacity of three tons
! each, are to be utilized. performing the
journey between Buenos Aires and re-
| turn in one day. Passengers and mail
| will be carried. and if the enterprise is
| SllcreGSflif he
| to other cities
| Marked progress in aviation has
been shown lately in South American
| republics and in the majority of
| cases the government is extending
| aid to development of airplanes for
| commercial purposes, while their mil
| itary uses are being carefully studied.
| j: X 4 X
Reports to the Department of Com
/, merce and discussions of proposal
by Argentina to enlarge her mer-
| chant marine to strength COM
mensurate with that of Brazil and
Chile have caused conflicting state
ments by those in Washington famiI-
lar with Argentina's intentions on
this subject
Argentina would lose, rather than
! gain. by an attempt to build and
maintain her own merchant marine,
it is stated. Lacking the raw ma
terial and the plants to construct
vessels themselves, it would be i'm
practicable at this time to buy them
abroad, it is argued, in view of the
fact that il is lack of market, and
not tonnage, which is hurting Argen-
tine export. Argentina, it is said Is
| watching with interest efforts of the
| United States to maintain a suitable
merchant marine, and this country S
experience so far would tend to re-
! tard rather than encourage any
project she may entertain herself
along this line.
AS far as commercial rivalry be-
tween Brazil and Chile goes. ArSen-
tina does not believe a merchant ma
rine of her own would help matters
materially The empty bottoms
which leave her ports testify to the
need of a market rather than a mer-
chant marine. which would have to
be heavily subsidized by a govern.
ment which now can hardly AFFORD
to engage in profitless ventures.