The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-12
DETAILS WILL BE
 DECIDED AFTER
 FARLEY ADJOURNS
Questions of Policy Must Be Acted Upon During the Sessions of the Con-
 ference
By Associated Press

Washington, December 11.-WhiIe the foreshadowed acceptance by Ja- pan of the "5-5-3" naval ratio. cor nerstone of the American naval limi- tation plan, will leave much to be de- cided, it does not follow in opinion of the American conference officials that the conference itself will have to pass on all that must be done. The remaining work on naval matters. it Is said, naturally divides itself into two classes; they are decisions in- volving policy and these merely deal ing with details under policies all ready approved
 The conference must act on all policy questions In this group lie the Franee-Itallan naval ratio de- termination; the British desire to re : duce the tonnage of each power in submarines and, possibly, to limit the size of future submersibles; the sug- gested' modification of the 10-year naval holiday plan to permit some building knowledge, and final deter imitation of fleet ratios in airplane carriers.
 Method of scrnpping
 In the other group, 1t Is expected, will be found such questions as agreement as to methods of scrap ping ships slated for destruction; ways and means to control conver- sion of merchant craft into war ves- Sa1e fin tpa Nf fa a applying to new agencies, such as submarines, aircraft and poison gas; specific agreement as to fleet ratios in other auxiliary ships besides sub marines and airplane carriers. It is held the conference could well leave some, at least of these points to expect discussion and final settle ment through ordinary diplomatic channels.
 A particular point in the lattor class Is the method to be followed in scrapping capital ships. This necessarily involves such disposition of the vessels as will make them im- possible of ready reconverson into war craft. Yet there will be a strong tendency to salvage whatever can be saved for ordinary commerce and other purely noncombatant use.
 Six U. s. ships
 Already 1t has been suggested that three of the six American battle cruisers could be made over into safe fast passenger liners, a type of mer- chantman lacking in the present American commercial fleet. The three ships under consideration have been completed up to the water line. At that point, naval experts figure, it would be possible to continue con- struction so as to produce a purely passenger vessel instead of poten- tial cruiser. Outside of special hull construction, to afford protection against submarines and mines, war ship hull is practically the same as that of liner up to the water line. In the battle cruisers, some of the engines and at least eight knots in speed would be sacrificed if the ship was changed to liner. and these changes would be permanent. No change back to cruiser construction would be possible experts declare.
 The same thing is said to apply to battleships There is a possibil- ity that those not too far advanced in construction could be changed into intermediate freight and pas songer carriers. but naval experts have not gone far enough to deter mine if this is q practicable and eco- nomical suggestion.
 Already one old American pre- dreadnaught, the Kearsarge, has been made over into a fleet crane ship. She now has no fighting quality. Sim ilarly, it might prove expedient to use a battleship or two as repair or supply vessels, stripping them be- yond possible restoration of fight ing characteristics. offensive or de- fcnsive. These are all technical
 l. e<.tx al ,xr perts probably will thresh out after the conference itself has adjourned.