Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-28
FARLEY SCOPE
EMBRACES ALL
WARFARE RULES
Agreement on Capital Ship
Program Is Only First
Step in Progress.
GAS IS CHIEF PROBLEM
special to Indiana Daily Times

Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2S.-Technical
discussions Of relative naval strengths,
as represented by capital ships, which
still dominate the ornaments phase of
the Washington conference, are widening
rapidly to include the submarine, poison
gas, aircraft and the rules of warfare"
Agreement on the capital ship pro-
gram on the basis of the so-called Hughes
ratio of 5-5-3, expected early next week,
will constitute only the first step toward
a complete accord of Great Britain, the
United States and Japan on questions of
the Limitation of naval ornaments. The
amount of submarine tonnage, as pro-
posed by Secretary Hughes, remains I'M
der fire from the British delegation and
questions of auxiliary naval craft also
will have to be worked out laboriously
to satisfy representatives Of the three
great naval powers.
Beyond and quite apart from these
exact naval problems lies a limitless
field for the expression of views on the
use of poison gas in warfare, develop
ment of the airplane as an engine of de-
struction and question Of restoring the
codes Of war, scrapped by the Germans
during 1914-191S.
EXPERTS PREPARE
TO AID CONFEREES.
Committees of the conference, composed
Of experts, already have begun consid-
Grafton Of these subjects and are work
ing industriously upon suggestions which
may be submitted to the conference or
to their own delegations. Although little
official light has been shed on the brief
sessions, these committees have held thus
far 1t is apparent that poison gas has the
center of the stage.
Il is the view of the United States, au-
thoritatively expressed today, as the re-
suit Of Developments Of new instruments
particularly gases in the World War, ma
lions are confronted with a situat iOn
which has never existed before. The real
point to be considered by the conference,
according to the American view, is the ex-
posture to which millions OF people, not
actually engaged in the fighting and viz
tually defenseless, are subjected.
BARON KATO HAS
JAPAN'S VOTE.
The probability Of an agreement upon
the capital ship proposal on the basis Of
the American ratio was heightened today
by indications that Baron Kato Of the
japanese delegation, virtually possesses
full powers &c make decision for JAP an
and is ready TO announce Japan's willing
ness to proceed On the 5-5-3, leaving tle
problem of Japan's defense, which it has
been intimated. includes questions OF
Pacific fortifcatiOns, to be worked out
later. The next plenary session Of the
conference, it Is understood, will be held
when the capital ships program has been
agreed upon and is ready for submission
to the conference.
Tie submarine question is in the laps
Of the British delegations and its mem
bers doubtless Will have something to
say in support Of Arthur BalfOur's sug
gestion that the 10000 tons, provided in
the Hughes program be reduced and the
cruising type Of submarine be abandoned.
One of the spokesman of the British dele
CATION had the following TO say regard
ing the problem:
1t is becoming more and more obvious
the submarine question may be regarded
as one of the chief points of the confer
ence. In Great Britain it is felt 1t wonid
be disastrous if the conference should
abolish capital ships and set up underseas
navies which would be just as great
menace to peace.-COpyright 1921, by
Public Ledger Company.