Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-22
FEAR NAVY RECESS
FAV0RS AMERICA
British and Japanese Experts
See U. S. Emerging in Bet
ter Shape Than Others
FURTHER CUT IS POSSIBLE
by the Associated Press

Washington, Nov. 22.-Naval ex-
perts of the three major Powers still
were reviewing today the highly techni-
cal questions that have arisen in con-
nection with the American proposals for
immediate reduction of the fleets and a
ten-ycar naval building holiday. The
British and japanese officers appear, to
have found some details Of the plan
which will require treatment before
there is final acceptance.
For one thing, the British have
pointed out the effect on the fleets the
American program would have If the
full measure of Secretary Hughes plan
were carried into execution. The plan
proposes absolute cessation of building
for ten years the fixing Of the life of n
battleship at twenty years, replacement
building to begin seventeen years after
the ship to be replaced was completed,
this allowing three years for conStruc-
ton of the new ship.
The twcnty-year life rule alone is n
novel one fo- other navics. Japan now
uses eight years as the life of capital
ships. beginning replacement within that
period after u vessel Is constructed.
She has not as yet worked out this
cigft-ycar cycle, however, expecting
WIN htE DlNS'll DuliIlIB phDbiuAA W
attain 1t in 1928.
Great Britain has no replacement
schedule at present. For two years
prior to the war she laid down five new
battlcshipS n year and for years pre-
vious,y four year. This program was
what maintained her two Power
standard" now abandoned. It did not
contemplate q twenty year active life
for the ships.
There is some reason to believe thai
both the British and japanese experts
think the United States would come to
the end of the holiday period in far
better shape than either Of the other
two Powers. That appears to be the
basis Of the discussions now proceeding
and perhaps of the japanese desire to
retain some of the newer ships. sched-
uled for the scrap heap by the Amcri-
can plan. rather than destroy them.
If each navy, as seems likely. felt
IL necessary to take immediate advan-
tage Of the resumption Of capital ship
building in 1881. II is suggested. enor-
nous projects would have TO be launched
in that year.
The situation apparently would weigh
more heavily on Japan than on Great
Britain because under the "J-5-3 ratio"
Of Secretary Hughes plan already ac-
ceptcd by the British, the British would
have to provide for 90 per cent re-
duction of their fleet by 1881 when the
ratio would apply. Japan would not
face any such reduction, However. and
must get to work promptly &, ew ships
If she was TO maintain C'an he pro.
posed "5-5.3 ratio
1t seems possible tina. Secretary
Hughes contemplated a still greater
reduction in tonnage than the 800 900
800, ,OOO-30O COO capital ships aggrc-
gates laid down in his replacement
plan. Hc was stating the case for the
United States with the possibility of
an agreement on Far Eastern and Pa
Citic questions in the background. and
he used this language:
with the acceptance Of this plan the
burden of meeting the demands of COM
petition IN naval armament Will be
lifted. Enormous sums will be re,
leased TO aid the progress of civiliza-
tion. At the same time the proper
demands of national defense will be
adequately met and the nations will
have ample opportunity during the
naval holiday of ten years TO consider
their future course
There seems little reason TO doubt
that the American replacement pro-
gram, to apply after the holiday. is
largely tentative except in the 5-5.3
ratio principle. 1t was expected BY
the American delegates, without ques-
tion, that a year test OF the prac-
tical results of other agreements
reached as to the Far East would pave
the way for still further naval reduc-
tons at the end of that time.