Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-18
BRITISH STOP WORK
ON -FOUR .WARSH|PS
England and United States Be-
Iieved il Agreement on
Naval Ratio
JAPAN ASKING INCREASE
BY the Associated Press

announced today that it had ordered
the cessation Of all work on the four
battleships of the super Hood type.
The shlpbuilding firms we're notified
yesterday not to incur any further lia-
billties on new naval construction until
further notice from the admiralty.
These contracts were awarded only two
weeks ago.
= Three of the ships were to have been
built on the Clyde and the fourth at
Newcastle on Tyne.
Tho Admiralty order halts work on
all the new warships authorized by
Parliament. Actual constructions had
not yqt begun. although it is understood
virtually all the preliminary work has
been completed
The four ships were to cost about
f32 600 900 in all. and the bulk of this
sum will be saved by the government,
as n comparatively small sum is due the
constructors for the work already ac-
complishCd
The Admiralty order caused Const"r-
nation along the Clyde, where there
is much uncmDloymCnt which was cA-
rected to be alleviatcd by the work on
the warships.
Washington. Nov. iS-tBy \. r.
Action of the british Government in
ordering work stopped on the four cap
it.l ships of the Hood type. the only
capital shipbuilding program on which
The British have been engaged since
the armistiCc. came aS no surprise here,
There was much doubt. even before the
Conference on on Limitation of Arma =
mcnt was called by President Har-
ding, that the British would complete
these ships. Their status as 10 con =
struction on most American tQbulatlOns
has been carried as "dOuhttuI.
England and L. $. Reach Agreement
In anv case. deliberations of the tech
nical commission. headed by Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt and including hlgh
est naval officers of th" hve power
represented in the Conference. appeal
to have reached u point where the 'apl'
tai ship ratio may be considered settled
SO far as the Briti=h nnd American meet
are concerned. The American PROPOSE
that Great Britain retain eighteen bat
tleships and four battle cruisers and tn
United States eighteen battpShips seem
10 have been accepted by the experts
which implies final acceptance by. IN
Conference itself of that element Of III
program.
II is not clear. however, that the eX
perts have as yet reached cOnc,uNloj
as TO Japun's fleet strength. Formn
announcement yesterday by Adnlrh
Baron Kato. heading the Japanes
group. that Japan desired more than tn
90 per cent ratio in general naval ton
mage allowed for her under the America
proposal was taken as meaning that tn
is the point now being debated by I'll
Ave admirals, of the sub committee an
their stats.
Japan Asks Larger Ratio
It has been said that the JaNanel
desired fleet ratio to British or Amer
lean strength "f 20 instead of 90 n
cent. Baron Knto did not disclose q
actual figures, saying mcrelt that
sought "Slight" increase in propol
tional strength There is no doubt thu
this would he viewed by American nav
opinion as n modification Of one OF I!
four general principles laid down
Secretary Hughes.
If the concrete terms Of the Japane
counter proposal deal only with her Dc
sire to retain the new supCrdreadn0ug
Mutsu, just commissioned. and If tn
figures out into a "Slight" increase
general tonnage, it is possible an a,
juStmpnt could be reached by rocast!l
the list Of specific ships laid down
Mr.. Hughes as those 10 be retained
each power in the projected imm"dia
reduction Of existing forces. II the ia
anese claim is for an actual higher =
ito of naval power, however, and tho
is some indication that II j., the que
tion will be more difficult of trratmeI
There is no doubt that American II
val opinion regards the original pr
posal of 80 per cent for japan as .
tremely liberal in view of Japan plG
in the roll Of nations. viewed from !
economic or other interests as Compar
with those Of Great Britain or
United States.
Toxic, Nov. Is by \. PJ-Wi
the fading of the first enthusiasm Oy
the anticipated relief Of armament bu
dens, spirit Of caution has develop
in japan. with IN" inclination 70 look
possible advantage to rhe Unit
States in its proposal for Il ten -
naval holiday and limitation of nayi
Expressions tavOring more equal bi
ance of power have become the ru
spicuous note in public expressions
The sacrifice Of warShips aggrpgat
$50 900 tons by Japan would be eQ
10 the scrapping Of 800 600 tons
the United States. japanese nnaly
declare on the ground that IN an en-
Eency the United States could rcpl
her lost tonnage within third or I"
a fifth of the time required by Jal
with her limited facilities.