Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-29
Undersea Fleet Three Times as
Big AS at Present To Be Built
Conference is Told - Other
Auxiliary Craft to Total $780,
OOOTOnS--BritiSh and French
Delegates in Plain Ex-
changes--Britain Sees
Menace in Plan

Washington, Dec. 2S-(By A. P.)-
Efforts to limit the naval strength
Of the powers in submarines and
auxiliary warships came to an abrupt
end today after they had drawn the
French and British aims conference
| delegates into a plain spoken eX-
change over the possibilities of a
future war between France and the
British Empire.
The French. acting under renewed
| instructions from their government,
told the conference naval committee
with an air of finality that France
| must remain free to build sub
marine fleet nearly three times as
great IS she now possesses and to
construct, in addition, cruisers. de-
stroyers and other auxiliary craft up
to tonnage of 100000.
! To the proposal the Americans.
Japanese and Italians replied with
expressions Of surprise and regret,
while the British charged openly tina t
such a building program must be re
garded as menace to British shores.
! Arthur J. Balfour added that he had
no doubt. If occasion arose. Great
| Britain would be equal to it, but
| only il she reserved complete free
| dom OF action as to the construction
lof all types Of auxiliaries which
might be useful against underwater
warfare.
would be useless. the committee turn
ed its attention TO collateral subjects,
Including regulations for future use
of submarines, proposals for limita-
ton OF the size and armament of in
dividual auxiliary vessels and details
Of the agreement already sealed in
! principle regarding capital ships.
For the American delegation. Elihu
Root proposed a joint declaration re-
affirming the obligation of submarine
commanders to warn merchant ships
before attack to refrain from sink
ing vessels whose crews and passen-
gers could not first be placed in safe
| ty, and to conform in general to all
the established practices of interna
tional law. In addition. Mr.. Root also
suggested change in existing usage
| to prohibit attacks on merchant YES
sells altogether and to make sub
! marine commanders who violate the
regulati ton liable to trial as pirates.
| General sympathy for the purposes
Of these proposals was expressed by
the representatives of all the powers,
but definite action was deferred
Should an agreement be reached. II
is to be submitted to all civilized ma =
tons with an invitation for world
wide adherence.
Under the further proposals pre-
scented by the American delegation
and given general. but not final APP
prevail by the other powers, no aux
iliary vessel of more than 10000 tons
could be constructed by any of the
powers, and no airplane carrier could
have a tonnage Of more than $1,000
tons A maximum airplane carrier
tonnage of $4,000 for the United
States. $4,000 for Great Britain, as
600 for Japan, $4,000 for France and
italy. also was suggested pE lHe
Americans and will be further dis
cussed tomorrow.
The net result of the days deliber-
atoms so far as actual progress Is
concerned, was an agreemnt that in
future no gun of more than 16-inch
calibre shall be mounted on capital
ship and none of more than eight
inch calibre shall be included in the
armament Of any auxiliary vessel or
airplane carrier.
Along with their demand for in
creased subma rine and auxiliary ton
mage the French delegation presf Mt
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