Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-17
AMERICANS FAVOR
50 PER CENT PLAN
BY JUNIUS b. WOOD
Especial Dispatch to The Journal
and the Chicago Daily News)
Copyright, 1929

anu the chicago Ddlly NeWS.D
Copyright, 1929
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-Objec-
lions by Great Britain as we'll as
Japan to certain important details
Of the American plan for naval re-
auctions have not caused the Amer
lean delegates to change their opin-
ion that the 60 per cent program is
both possible and logical.
Stress is laid by those RESPONSE
BILE for the American 60 per cent
program on the fact that, though
the benefits Of future world peace
will be mutually enjoyed by the
three naval powers, the United
States is making more sacrifices to
secure it than are either Of the 9TH
err two. The contention that the
United States is in a, better condi-
ton to afford financial sacrifices is
met by the reply that she is also in
a better condition to continue a big
navy program. In the present eco
uomic condition Of Japan, a contin-
uation of it's 8-8 program might
bankrupt the empire. Equally Sc.
rious consequences are not foreseen
for Great Britain, though relief from
the expensive burden of further bat
tleship building would be cordially
welcomed.
The stagnation which the propos.
ed ten years naval holiday would
cause in the shipbuilding industry is
dreaded by both powers. Great Brit
ain goes farther into details and
protests that her ship yards would
be dust covered and worthless if
closed for ten years. Japan's SEIZED
ule of prospective ships to complete
her 8-8 program shows them allot-
ted to different private builders, suf-
ficient to guarantee them with work
for several years to come. Though
it is purely a domestic affair for ia
pan, the government has actually
made such a guarantee to the yards
and is facing the prospect Of paying
heavy indemnities to her shipbuild-
ing corporations if the contracts are
cancelled.
1t is not to be expected that the
shipbuilders in either of the three
countries are enthusiastic over the
60 per cent program.
Considerable less special machin-
cry and equipment is needed to con-
vert a bodybuilding plant into a
merchantman-build plant than Is
required to make a change in the
other direction. There is nothing in
the 60 per cent program which linn
it's the number of merchantmen
which any nation shall have on the
seas or the number it's shipyards
shall launch. It may build all for
which there is any demand.
In respect to the decentralization
Of the shipbuilding industry it is not
believed that America is in any bet
ter position than either of the other
two nations.
While Japanese hearts are aching
over the suggestion that Mutsu, the
latest and greatest in world super
dreadnaughts be scrapped, the Color
ado, which was to cost $30,000,000 on
a 10 per cent plus contract, is 80 per
cent completed and would be in COM
mission in a few months. Practically
all the equipment to complete her
has been contracted for and deliver
ed. The only saving by stopping
work on the Colorado will be q COM
paratively small labor cost. The
West Virginia is 70 per cent to-
wards completion. The saving by
stopping work on her will be slight
ly more and the loss from scrapping
her somewhat less than from the
Colorado.
1t is true that without the Mutsu,
which was to go into commission
next month, Japan will have only
the dreadnaught Nagato with an
armament of 16-fnch guns. Ameri
ca has the Maryland. Great Brit
ain has ten dreadnaughts and three
battle cruisers with 15-inch guns.
The largest batteries on any other
ships are 14-inch.
The so per cent program is con-
sidered entirely fair by the Ameri-
can side of the conference. That is
roughly the ratio which exists be-
tween Japan and the United States
today and would be the ratio if both
nations continued their big navy
programs. However, the navy mem
bers of the conference from both ma
tons would be better pleased if more
old ships were scrapped and their
building program continued until
new and large type ships made the
same ratio