Evening star., 1921-12-10
.ENV0YSSO()A T0FK
more NAVY RATIOS
French and Italian Claims
1 Form Delicate Problem
for Arms Conference.
BY G. COULD LINCOLN.

=, tVt NJ ITO OVbstOS StuVSs
BY G. COULD LINCOLN.
With an early settlement of the
capital ship ratio of the United
States, British and Japanese navies
expected, the French and Italian naval
experts are putting the finishing
touches upon their data which will
be presented to the Washington con-
ference when it shall undertake to
fix the naval strength of those two
countries.
do not possess navies of strength
comparable with those of the United
States, Great Britain and Japan to-
day. Their representatives frankly
admit that they do not expect to pos
sess such navfes, and say that their
peoples would not provide the money
needed for constructing such fleets.
But 1t is believed by all five powers
taking part in the present conference
on limitation Of armament that some
ratio for the navieS of France and
Italy should be found before the con-
ference concludes.
While there have been reports to
the effect that France would ask to
be. allowed tonnage equal to that
of Japan-not. in capital ships, but in
submarines and auxiliary craft
there has so far been no official con-
firmation of the report. and the naval
experts have closely guarded what
will be their recommendations.
N. Viviani, head of the French dele
cation, has insisted that France does
not desire anything which is not in sc-
cord with the Washington conference
decision TO increase the personnel OF
the French navy, recently cabled to this
country. he said, was taken a year be-
fore> the Washington conference Was
called. France. he said, has not built
anything since the war.
Italy Naval Aims.
So far as italy il concerned, the de-
sire Of the delegation appears to be
to have a navy equal in strength to
that of any other Mediterranean
power. which means a navy equal in
strength to that of France. The Ital-
ians frankly say that they are not
greatly interested in the exact size
of their navy, provided it is as great
as that of other powers bordering the
Mediterranean. They are not anxious
to increase their navy greatly and
has been. called for is to reduce
rather than provide for an increase in
naval strength.
There must be taken into considera-
ton, however. the fact that ootn
France and Italy were at a standatill
during the war so far as building or
their navies. They bent all their en-
ergies and expended their money In
keeping land armies in the field.
For that reason there 10 an In
30 ut
ters to allow for some increase In the
navies of those nations. and to per-
init a replacement of many OF their
vessels now obsolete with vessels up
tp-date.
Ratio Basis Hard to Ffx.
In fixing the 5-5-s ratio for the
capital ships OF the navies Of the
United States. Great Britain and
Japan, the American proponents OF
This ratio took into consideration one
factor alone-the existing naval
strength of these countries. II the
existing naval strength of the French
and italian navies 10 used as the basis
of fixing their ratios, 1t was said to-
day in American naval circles, some
injustice might be done them because
of the fact that during the world war
they abandoned their naval building
and since the war ended have done
practically nothing in way OF build
ing up their fleets.
IL is recognized that II the prin-
ciple of existing naval strength Is
abandoned in hxing- naval ratiois, 1t
may be difficult to find q basis for
decision. Whether the pre-war naval
strength of these, nations as compar-
ed to that of the other powers may
be considered is not indicated.
YoI France
and Italy are far behind the other
three powers. 1t was said at the
Italian headquarters today that tney
have now only six capital ships. with
a total tonnage of about lz0.oou TONS.
Since the close of the war, IT was
said, the Italians have scrapped four
of their superdreadnaughts their
largest ships-because they believed
there was to be peace. One OF the
vessels was sold.
Present Naval Force.
Other vessels of the Italian navy
were given as armored cruisers, 10
light cruisers, floating leaders and 8
building; So destroyers and 16 building
and 43 submarines and building.
According to a report Of the British
admiralty made last July. the French
have eleven battleships. but many OF
them are not of recent construction
Their total tonnage would run close TO
,0O0 France had projected the con-
struction of five new battleshlps OF
1920 tons each about the time the war
broke out, but work was stopped on
them. and has not been continued
According to the same British adInt-
TaIty, report gives France ten cruisers
and give light cruisers, with stx OF the
latter building. Italy is given by the
same repOrt five cruisers and ten light
scruisers. France is given seventy tor
pedo boat destroyer.s and Italy twenty
four; France. forty eight submarines,
and Italy, twenty-four, with France
building SIX and Italy three.
France is insistent that in fixing any
naval strength for her. she be given a
generous allowance Of submarines and
mines; for the defense Of her coast.
t1taIS. too, regards the submarine as q
sdefknsive weapon, produced At COM
eparsstiyeIy little cost. and desires an
equal share Of these vessels.
Problen In Delicate.
/ II France should ask for ratio Of
three as compared to the 5-5-2 Of the
three big naval powers. strong resistance
may be expected from the British dele
cation, it is said. This would mean
that if Italy also had . ratio Of three.
combined they would dominate the
Mediterranean. and exceed the British
fleet The ratio that has sometimes
been suggested for France and Italy to
1.-Two IL the United States Great Britain
and Japan are to have SOD.
FRANCE AIDS 1850.