Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-14


ognition OF tho necessities Ut naval
torces OF those countries; Of American
Willingness that they should prose-
cute legitimate ventures over the
world requiring far-nung merchants.
routes, and employ for protection of
those routes naval craft they thought
best suited to the need AS n con-
tinental power. although asserting
In thiH proposal the right to an equal
footing with any nation on the seag.
tho United States might no, neces-
sarily need baltic cruisers as the
others powers feel they do. i, was
said.
To AGree on Program.
At any rate. the American pro-
fosal has made flat proposition
In regard to battle cruisers, which
IL was thought might be very DIM
cult of treatment at the conference.
IL remains TO be seen what Japan
and Great Britain think about. but
long step toward agreement on
that question has been taken, nayai
folk believe.
the actual business Of negotiation
OF the conference Will get under way
tomorrow. when the heads of del.
eos'''S viii meet 10 DISCUSS pro-
cedure. subject likely to devaloD
INTO one o. the most important OF
The whole conference. From every
ono of the interested powers havc
come expressions emphasizing that
the order In which the TOPICS an,
pear on the program would have a
significant bearing on the ability of
the conference to move quickly to-
ward practical resulta.
10 aFrce OH the preliminary dc.
tails. two meetings. will lie held.
In the morning the Committee on
program and procedure for limitR-
,'oii OF ornaments. OF which the
heads OF the American, British,
French. italian and Japanese deIo-
cations are members. will assemble
To consider the armament end OF the
program, and in the afternoon there
VIII be meeting OF the committee
on program and procedure for Far
Eastern questions. consisting OF the
heads Of the delegations of ail nine
CT The nations holding seats in the
conference.
Experts 10 study Plan.
During the afternoon. the Ameri-
can advisory committee of twenty.
ono also Will meet. and Chairman
sutherland Will announce the per-
sonnet OF the ELK subconimittees,
wh0se creation has been authorized
To facilitate the handling Of special
subjects.
While these meetings are being
held. technical advisors OF the vnri-
ors delegations will further study
the American proposal. under which,
tonnage Figures in capital ships for
the three powers for Immediate re-
al tn IA
60i,450: United States. 50O,G50; Japan
2s9,7oO. The list OF ships to be re-
tanned by each shows that the Brit.
lsh preponderance over the United
States Is practically all in her four
battle cruisers. In that way, ap-
rnrentiy, the American group worked
cut Mr.. Hughes general statement
as to the necessity Of having re.
gard TO the existing naval strength,
OF the powers concercned"
So far as battle tonnage goes. in
the retained fleets. the American
and British forces would be about
the same. around 100000, and that
Of japan just under 100000. This
links up directly with Mr. Hughes sug-
Cest!on as to replacement program,
based on fixed tonnage for each
mower. 10 apply only after ten years
or no building OF any kind Then,
under tho American pronosal, Great
Britain would be allowed TO main :
tain up to 100000 tons IN capital
ships. the United States the same,
and Japan 100000.
In other words, after ten years
the British fleet must be brousbt
down to the same tonnage basis as
the American; while the Japanese
would remain substantially where
1t was at the time Of the first re-
d"ction. Apparently 1t Is expected
that the British strength would he
reduced sufftciently by attrItion, the
wearing out of ships. during the
ten-year period.
Statistics ms 10 Gun Power.
Statistics as 10 tho gun power Of
the three fleets TO be retained under
the reduction program show that
the United States and Japan would
nave one ship each mounting eight
IG-inch rifles each. Great Britain
would have ten ships carrying a TO-
tai Of eight 15-inch rifles: ono car
ryinG ten 14-inch guns. and her other
seven ships would be armed with
toe British las guns. used By neither
OF tho other powers. She would
have seventy Of these afiont,
The United States, in addition to
the l6-inch-gun ship, the Maryland,
Just commissioned. would have eight
ships carrying twelve 14.inch guns
each; four carrying ten 14-inch
each. two carrying twelve I2-inch
each and four carrying ten 13-inci,
each. japan. in addition to her ono
16-inch-gun ship. would have afIoat
forty-eight 14-inch guns and twelve
l2-inch on her hsttleships and thirty
Two 14-inch OH her battle cruisors.
The figures further uiustrat to
that the British prepondernnce In
the proposed Immediate cut Is en-
braced in her four batlo cruisers, ms
the gun power OF tho two battle
ship Fleets would be different In
makeup. but Approximately the
same. There IS litlo Doubt. however,
that American naval opinion would
rank the American. battiestiip fleet
ae superior. ysGtsgg' 'sis
Il ia to be noted thar In the
American scheme no date as to- new
ships laid down az repiacsneuts
would be required to besfilrn lsfi ed gbt