The Washington times., 1921-11-13

The surgeon who operated on him
self for appendicitis7 After observ-
ing how busy the naval officials
were to make room for the Dis
armament Conference in the Navy
building. I greeted an admiral with
this inquiry:
LIKE IRONY OF FATE
TO THE NAVY MEN.
What are you going to DO when
the Disarmament Conference takes
away your job7
Does it not look like the irony Of
fate for the navy to furnish accom-
modations to men who have gather
ed to reduce the Navy7
II got out last March while tho
going was good" I said to my
admiral friend. but you must
assist at your own execution"
His first reply was to voice the
protest. which Secretary Hughes
has of late been insisting upon.
1T is incorrect to call 1t q Dis.
armament Conference II 's only
to talk about placing a limitation
on armament, and the two are
very different"
This admiral, usually we'll informed.
IL Of the opinion that the most
that will be done will be to make
plans looking toward q limitation
upon the laying down Of additional
ships for which no country has yet
contracted. England has lately
given orders for a number Of
great ships OF the Hood type or
Super-Hood, but as yet, u 10 on
paper. The latest Ia that it has
also begun to construct upon plans
the most secret giant submarine
as large and as powerful a. Q
dreadnaught. Washington has an
idea that the advertisement of
these increases, not yet really be-
gun has been adopted - give a
basis for a trade" at Washington.
GREAT BRITAIN STILL
LEADS IN SHIPS.
The latest compiled statistics
show that in naval strength Great
Britain Leads the world with $50
ships with an aggregate Of 1850, $50
tons. This does not include the
advertised program Of seventeen
additional ships or 1ss,3so tons. It
these modern ships are completed,
Great Britian's navy will give. II
the alliance with Japan 10 con-
tinued. the two-to-one supremacy
which 1t set for itself after Ger
many begun to build a great navy.
How about the navy of Japan?
1t has ninety.nine ships with a
tonnage Of 62s.sSs tons and Japsn
has a greatly enlarged program
under construction or on paper
mostly on paper-of eishty-fivs
ships with q tonnage Of So6.lss
tons. exclusive of a special sub
marine program OF 120 submarines.
The world knows there 10 an ALI
ance between Japan and the British.
By its terms. since Great Britain
signed the Bryan treaty. England
does not undertake to aid Japan IN a
war II there should be one with the
United States. But how far does
that alliance 90? And what connec-
ton does II have with the recently
adopted naval program Of Great
Britain and Japan7 Much Of the
big additional programs were an
nounced after the publication Of the
call Of this conference.
Were they agreed upon to
strengthen the alliance2" "or for
trading purposes at the confer
ence?" That question IL often asked
in officialdom At Washington.
WHY THESE PACIFIC
QUESTIONS PARAM0UNTEDf
It may suggest the answer to the
inquiry often made and never an
swered:. Why did President Hard
ing. after Congress had authorized
q conference for the sole purpose Of
reducing the sea power Of the Uni,ed
States, Japan and Great Britain.
call in China and other nations, and
make the Pacific questions para
mount to limitation Of armaments7
Nobody who IN anybody officially In
Washington will admit that there
is feeling that the alliance between
Japan and Great Britain IL q chief
reason for broadenlps the scope Of
that conference. But there II no
room to doubt that before enSering
into a real discussion Of the limita-
ton Of armament the Harding Ad-
wished all the cards
on the table Of all countries having
ships and possessions on the Pacific.
II the Anglo-Japanese alliance is to
be renewed. 1t may be a matter Of
deep interest to note how big their
navies are to be.
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