The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-11-10
ALL ARE WAITING
FOR UNITED STATES
To Outline Policy in Relation to
Limitation Of Arna-
ments.

Washington, D. O., Nov. 10 by the
Associated Press) Proposals to be
made by the American delegation to
the conference on limitation Of arma
ment, apparently, constitute the only
suggestion prepared in advance as to
ways and means Of curtailing naval ex-
penditures without sacrifice by any
power Of national security. Great Brit
ain is not known to have worked out
any formula; Japan is awaiting the
American suggestion; France and Italy
are more concerned with land forces
than navies.
Two days before the conference
opens the American proposals remain a
closely guarded secret.
This much is known: A definite for
mula for agreement on limitation OF
naval forces has been reached by Secre-
tary Hughes and his colleagues OF the
American delegation. The formula IL
an entirely practical one. IT does not
attempt to state any general rule for
establishing equitable relativity Of
naval forces between the powers. It
does not attempt to fix common de-
nominator by which all navics could
be divided and each power assigned by
agreement the number of units it could
maintain with world approval.
Tlh American suggestion will deal
with things as they are. 1t will be a
plain proposition OF ships, built, build
ing or authorized; Of naval bases, of
the vital element of naval replace
ments, Of the potential naval signif-
canoe of merchant marines and Of other
concrete, existing or planned weapons
and auxiliaries of naval warfare.
Also it is regarded by those who
framed the suggestions as bold stroke
for naval reduction; possibly too bold
for immediate realization.
Beyond this limited outline Of what
is going on behind the scenes, nothing
has vet been available.
There is feeling in some well in
formed circles that Baron kato touched
the heart Of the matter in stating ia
pans willingness to reduce her now
famous eight battleship and eight bat
tie cruiser fleet program. To that Sc
duence is to be added third eight, az
under Japanese standards Of naval OBJ
solescence a capital ship has a first line
OF but eight years and must be re-
placed by new ship within that pc
riod.
The American navy has no such def
mite objective. 1t does not represent an
ordered program Of replacement for
any fixed force on . fixed
ratio Of battleships and battle crnis-
ers.
The old British wo-power standard
which governed the building program
prior to 1914 went by the board with
the German fleet Britain is not to-day
building any capital ships. Four new
battle cruisers have been authorized in
the way Of replacemerrss for war losses
and to balance that side of the feet,
but they have not been laid down.
The exact status OF Japan's new
craft ii not known II is certain, how
ever, that Japan has mot started con-
struction on all the super warships her
eight and eight program would require.
That feet ratio, Baron kato said,
would not be achieved before 1928.
The American program Of 1916, de-
ferred dufing the war and greatly
slowed down this year by limited. ap-
preparations is in much the same stat
us. II includes six battleships and six
battle cruisers. Keel Of all have been
laid. Actual work on construction OF
one battleship. the Massachusetts,, has
been stationary at about four per cent
for several months. Work on the other
five ranges from 10 to y per cent. On
the battle cruisers one is placed at IL
per cent; one at 50 per cent; one at
6.3 per cent; one et 1915 per cent;
one at 1874 per cent, and the nearest
at 20 per cent finished.
These are for work on the ships and
10 not include material ordered.
1t is suggested, no naval power would
be willing to stop all construction be-
aause Of the factor Of advancement OF
in naval engineering which
,an be carried on only by building.
That phase. it is said, is certain to
be given attention