Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-15
JAPAN WILL RETAIN
BATTLESHIP MUTSI]


NNohtihucu FROM First Paye.)
would be taken In naval circles AZ
! evidence OF the good relationship
| conference.
| The plan is open. il Is said. 20
technical objections since the ships
would be Of II type not included in
| the Japanese or American navies
They were planned as vessels hord"r-
| inE on the composite" type talked
| of just at the close Of the war
| They would combine the batteries Of
| hattlcShips with the speed OF battle
cruisers. but sacrifice something In
armur as compared to ba,tlcships.
The supcr-lloodS. also. would be
beyond the replacement limit of as
nee tons displacement proposed in thu
American plan. That figure dealt with
replacement building. however and
not with ships under construction.
each of III. three powers having a
number Of O.oO0-tunners in prospect.
Since Great Britain already has spent
money on the plans and spcciiic:t-
ti"ns Of the ships Il seemed improb-
able that proposal for their rcten-
ZION would meet objections in Ameri-
can circles. at least. The attitude. of
Japan'S d"lcGat.s was not known
Included III the treaty into which
the naval limitation agreement il to
hc worked viii bt the establishment
81 Il status quo und"rsta nding as to
naval bases and Qualifications in the
i'hcih". This feature OF the plan al
ready has been approved by the "hie
three"
1T means that the United states
abandons any thought Of creating a
naval base at Guam. hut excludes
from the restrictions to he imposcd
by treaty. Hawaii Islands. of the
coast OF Japan. "r those in waters
immediately adjacent to Australia or
New Zealand. In effect, the naval
trio are in agreement that none but
purely defensive outposts shall here
after be erected in the Pacific.
Aided Jnpanrsc Acceptance
1t was this understanding and the
Willingness of the United States To
mind itself not To add to prescn,
ordinations or base facilities at
Guam, which Is believed Ia have
cleared the way TO a large extent for
'apaneSe acceptance OF the $3.50"
ratl" OF feet strength
'N'''"'ioH ny Japan OF the MutSu
IL is said. will add about 1900 ton.
10 tn" fleet OF existing capital ships
sh" viii retain. Substitution OF IN.
Colorado and Washington for the
North Dakota and Delaware would
mean "a net gain or $500 tons for
TN" American fleet Addition OF two
super Hoods for the british would
mean more than 1000 tons In new
ships. hut until details of the plaus
Tor scrappinE older craft I'm their
place ar" disclosed tho net tonnage
gam for the British fee, cannot he
cstimated
In this connection /, NAV prov.
N'enihcant that ,hrc" Of the battle
r"'>erS 10 b" retained lay Great
l'rl'Hln under the original plan. tho .
'"n"wn l,cpulse and Tiger are re.
-hr""d IN naval circles generally. az
'hs"i"t" in type. They carry no i'm
'"riant armor and the BATH. of Int
ana is said 10 have proved that they
'oH!d not lie in the line in n nph,
n" Tiger Is 5000 tonner. COM
'!"t"d In 1911. TIL" other two wore
'h'it 10 meet German battle cruiser!
ans against the British coast
whether a proposal that two super
foods b" retained would include tho
'"Et"Sti"n tina, these three battle
H'S"rS d" scrapped instead or
Nhe'h Nor som" other equivalent basis
or th"ir retention has occurred 70
'%p"r's il not known