Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-11-17
HUGHES PLAN IS FAVORED
ENJOYS of Two Powers Confident There
VIII Be No Flat Rejection OF U. S.
Scnere-Wiil Form Basis of What
ever Agreement Is Reached.


Washington, Nov. While naval
experts Of the foreign powers continue
to examine the American proposals for
limitation of naval armament heads
of the American, British. Japanese.
French and Italian delegations con-
ferred TO map out plan of procedure
to expedite consideration of the whole
ornaments question.
American officials emphasized that
the plan presented to the conference
by Secretary Hughes was purely an
American proposal, and that advance
knowledge of it had been kept care
fully from all the representatives of
the other powers. Although it had be-
come known that some far-reaching
plan would be presented early in the
conference, it was declared that no
details either as to the basis of the
proposal or the exact time of its pres
entation We're permitted to reach any
of the other delegates.
Powers Study Proposal.
In consequence it was assumed that
SS'NA0A hoS . NObid bC IC4ulICu lOl lllC
naval advisers Of Great Britain and
Japan, the powers chiefly concerned, to
prepare any estimate of the acceptable
ity Of the sweeping American propos-
ais
1t was indicated that the meeting of
of the five heads of the delegation was
not for the purpose of actually con-
sidering the plan, but rather was de-
voted to more or less routine discus
sion of a method of procedure.
Preliminary to further conference
sessions, delegates continue their study
of Secretary Hughes proposal for the
immediate reduction of the British and
United States and japanese fleets, and
for ten-year naval holiday.
While Spokesman for Great Britain
and Japan continued to confine them
selves to guarded comment the Amer
lean delegation was encouraged by the
attitude of the representatives of the
other two powers affected by the pro-
posal, and were confident that there
was at least no possibility of a fiat
ACJNttAou VI tic pidus anu tAoC II WOuiu
form the basis of whatever agreement
is reached.
U. S. Shown unselfish.
Naval officers in discussing the pro-
posal emphasized as an outstanding
feature the fact that the United States
would be left without battle cruisers,
while Japan and Great Britain would
each retain four of these ships, the
newest addition to capital fighting
craft.
BY suggesting such a program it APP
pears that the United States sought
TO convey concrete assurance of the
unselfish purpose with which it has
entered the conference, as declared
by President Harding in his opening
address.
Not Included in List.
Capital ships of the United States,
completed, and under construction,
which were not included in the list
given by Secretary Hughes in his
synopsis OF the American reduction
proposal as to be retained, include the
lOlioNiAS
Under construction, battle cruisers:
Constellation, Constitution, Ranger,
Lexington, Saratoga, 40 to % per cent
completely, and United States Dust
startedD. Total six; original designed
displacement, 43,50O.
Under construction, battleships Indi-
ana. Montana, North Carolina, Iowa,
Massachusetts, Colorado, Washington,
West Virginia and South Dakota. Total
nine. Displacement $4,000 to 1920
tons; main batteries eight and twelve
16-inch.
Second-line battleships: Kentucky,
Illinois, Ohio, Virginia. Nebraska,
Georgia, New Jersey, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, Louisiana, Vermont, Kan
sas, Minnesota, New Hampshire, South
Carolina, Michigan. Total, II ships.
Displacement, $4,000 illinois and Ken
tucky), to 1900; main batteries four
12-inch and eight S-inch, except Illinois,
which has four 13-inch alone and Ken
lucky, which has four 13-inch and
eight S-inch.
Many of the second-line ships are
out of commission and have been for
some time.