The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-11-18
GREAT BRITAIN ORDERS WORK ON
 SHIPS TO END

Washington, Nov. 18.-Action of the British government, announced from London today in ordering work stopped on the four capital ships of the Hood type, the only capital ship building program on which the Brit ish have been engaged since the ar mistice, came as no surprise here There was much doubt. even before the conference on limitation of arma- ments was called by President Hard ing that the British would complete struction on most American tabula- tions has been carried as doubtful"
 In any case deliberations of the technical com mission headed by As sistant Secretary Roosevelt and in cluding highest naval officers of the five powers represented in the con- ference, appear to have reached a point where the capital ship raio the British and American fleets are concerned.
 The American proposal that Great Britain retain IS battleships and four battle cruisers. and the United States
 Is battleships, seems to have been accepted by the experts which implies final acceptane by the conference dt- self of that element of the program. The British Admiralty order stopping work on the four new ships is only an added straw to show which way the wind is blowing.
 It Is not clear, however, that the experts have as yet reached con- clusdon as to Japan's fleet strength
 Formal announcement yesterday by Admiral Kato, heading the Japanese
 group, that Japan desired more than the sixty per cent ratio in naval ton nage allowed for under the American proposal was taken as meaning that this Is the point now being debated by the five admirals of the sub-com- mfittee and their staffs.
 It has been said that the Japanese
 desired a fleet ratio to British or
 of sixty per cent BaroH Kato did not disclose the actual figures. saying
 merely that he sought a ''slight'' in- crease in proportional strength. There Is no doubt that this would be viewed by American naval opinion as a modification of one of the four
 general principles laid down by
 Secretary Hughes as those applied by
 reduction and limitation proposal
 "upon an entirely reasonable and practicable basis, to the end that the 1 Just interests of all shall be ade-
 curity and defense shall be maintain
 cd"
 | The third general proposition stat
 ed by MT. Hughes was:
 '@Tthat tn general regard should be
 had to the existing naval strength of | the powers concerned.
 This has application to the Japanese
 proposed modification as to tonnage | does not now possess even the sixty per cent. ratio allowed under the | American proposals.
 If the concrete terms of the Japa-
 nese counter proposal deal only with | her desire to retain the new super dreadnaught Matsu, just commission
 ed, and if that figures out into a ] Slight" increase in general tonnage,
 it is possible an adjustment could be
 reached by recasting the list of specific
 ships laid down by MT. Hughes as
 those to be retained by each power in
 the projected immediate reduction of
 existing forces. If the Japanese claim
 is for an actual higher ratio of naval
 power, however, and there is some i'm
 be more difficult of treatment. There is no doubt that American
 naval opinion regards the original proposal of sixty per cent. for Japan as extremely liberal in view of Japan's place in the roll of nations, viewed from her economic or other interests as compared with those of Great Britain or the United States. The plain fact of the matter seems to in the judgment of those American officers who will express opinions that they feel Japan Is not entitled to such a naval force as might permit her to dominate the situation in Oriental waters should the issue in China or elsewhere in the Far East be brought at some future time to test of war. The fleet ratio of Japan involves this point, it is said.
 London, Nov. 1S.-(By the A. P.) - The admiralty announced today that it had ordered cessation of ali work on the four battleships of the Hood type The shipbuilding firms were notified yesterday not to incur
 any further liabilities on new naval | construction until further notice from | the admiralty.
 | Thes contracts were awarded only | weeks ago.
 Officials explained that the practi- l cal effect of the admiraltyS order
 would be the absolute cessation of all warships works pending the outcome of the pending conference at Wash l ington.
 | Glasgow, Nov. 1S.-It is officially | stated that the contracts awarded the | Clyde Shipyards for the construction | of thre warships of the super Hood | type have been suspended.
 The steel works are also effected
 tI,a sin