, 1921-11-18
WORK ON SHIPS
GIVEN SETBACK

(Cont.uued from Page IL
ped on the four capital ships OF III
Hood type. the only capital ship
building program on which tho British
have been engaged since the arms
tice. came as no surprise here. Their
va, much doubt. even before the con
r.rencs on limitation OF armament
wa. called by President Harding. tina
tba British would complete thes'
4 ships.
In anv case deliberations Of tn
technical commission, headed by As
.istant Secretary Roosevelt and IN
Guiding highest naval officers OF tht
ave mowers represented in the con
ference, appear TO have reached a
nolnt where the capital ships rntc
nav be considered settled. so far af
tbe British and American fleets arc
CONCERNED. The American proposal
nat Great Britain retain IS battle
~nin- and 4 battle cruisers and the
limited States IS battieships seems
~ nav, been accepted by the experts
which implied final acceptance by the
conference itself OF that element o.
the program.
laps DESIRE 20 PER
CENT ANAB hAIiu.
II is not clear. however, that the
experts have as yet reached a con-
clnsion rs TO Japan's fleet strength
Formal announcement yesterday by
Admiral Baron Eato. heading the
Japancse group, that Japan desired
more thar the go per cent ratio IN
general naval tonnage allowed her
under the American proposal was
taken as meaning that this Is the
no,nt now begin debated by h hVe
adn!ral5 OF the subcommittee ana
their STATS
1t has been said that the
desired a fleet ratio to British or Am
erican strength OF 20 instead OF 90 per
cent. Baron Kato did not disclose
the actual figures. saying merely tnat
he sought a Slight" increase IN pro
nortiouai strength. There is no
aoubt that this would be viewed by
American naval opinion as a modifi-
cation of one of tho four general
nrInciples' laid down by Secretary
Hughes as those applied by the Am
er,can delegation in shaping a rcduc-
ton and Limitation proposal upon an
entirely reasonable md practicable
bas,s. to the end thai the Just inter
e.ts of all shall be adequately guard
ed and hat national security and de-
fonse shall be maintained"
The third general proposition stated
by Mr.. Hughes was
"--hat in general regard should be
had TO the existing laval strength OF
the powers concerned
This has application TO h Japan
csc proposed modification as to ton
mage ratio, e IS said, inasmuch as
Japan docs not now possess even the
present per cent ratio allowed under
the American proposals.
ADJUSTMENT POSSIBLE
on SHIP INCLUSION.
II the concrete terms of the japan
csc counter-proposal deal only will
her desire to retain the new super
dreadnought Mutsu. Just commission
ed. and IL tina figures out into ;
slight increase in general tonnage
il is possible an adjustment could h
reached by recasting the list Of spe
cific ships laid down by Mr.. Hughes
as those to be retained by each powe'
in the projected immediate reduction
II OF existing forces. II tho japanese
: claim Is for an actual higher ratio o
q naval power, however. and there I
some indication that It is, the ques
ton will be more difficult Of treat
! ment.
There is no doubt that American
4 naval opinion regards tho origina
proposal of 60 per cent for Japan a
Z extremely liberal in view of Japan
place in the roll of the nations, vie
: ed from her economic or other intel
ests as compared with those of Grea
I Britain or tho United States. TIL
plain fact Of the matter seems to b
( in tho Judgment OF those America
I officers who will express opinion
hat they feel Japan is not entitle
4 to such a naval force as might pc
nit her to dominate the situation 4
Z Oriental waters should the issue
n China or elsewhere IN the Far Ea:
q be brought at some uture time TO II
! test Of war. The fleet ratio of Japa
involves this point, It is said.
As to Japan's desire for equal to
! nare with the other powers in
purely defensive' type OF ship. 1t
z said, much would depend on VIII
kind of ship it is she wishes TO mai
) tain under the modification. Bart
Keto said It was not submarine
That leaves light cruisers and Z
..royers, presumably. II 1t Is Zig
Z cruisers, as seems likely. probably
agreement can be reached quickly
his point as II is rot material in {
timates OF feet strength
Destroyers also are included und
his heading Of the American PROF
sails. however. and war experien
gave p new value 70 destroyers WIFI
would have to be considered by Amt
lean experts very carefully befo
they could agree that Japan's dest-c
~- SiotiIia equal that O. the Unit