The New York herald., 1921-11-26
Question of Replacement
Programmes Still Is Mat
ter of Doubt.
HOLIDAY SEEMS DROPPED
Progress Of Naval Armament
Negotiations Is Generally
Satisfactory.

Special Despatch to THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. C.. Nov. 20.
The fate Of the Japanese battleship
Mutsu rests with Toxic. The stand
of the American delegates against any
disarrangement Of their capital ship
plan is believed to have had it's eff
feet. The recognition Of the fairness
of the American capital ship plan
seems to be complete. 1t cannot be
changed and be fair to all nations
without the addition Of large ships,
and this is beside the purpose Of the
conference. Auxiliary forces also have
been under consideration.
1t is understood that the Japanese
delegates have taken up the situation
with Toxic and that they are await
ing a reply. 1t is said that the aban-
donment of both the 10-10-7 policy and
the inclusion Of the Mutsu are prob
able within the next few days. 1t is
believed Toxic will accept the Ameri-
can condition in full, although the
Japanese navy men are making every
possible effort to save the great ship.
The Mutsu is very powerful ship. the
most modern and possibly the most pow
erful vessel in existence to-day. She is
the pride Of the Japanese navy and is
very revercntly regarded by the Japan
csc people. For this reason, more than
any other, the Japanese naval authori-
ties are loath to part with her.
One of Finest Ships Ahoat.
Displacing 33.So0 tons and having a
speed of 23 knots, this vessel is one of
the fastest battleships afloat, -wo knots
faster than any capital ship in the Unit
ed States Navy. She was completely
built in Japan and Is of Japanese de-
sign and therefore she Is very highly re-
garded by Japanese naval officers. The
sacrifice of the Mutsu to conform to the
American plan would be very great on
the part of Japan. and it is certainly
a very great proof Of her desire to bring
the conference to thoroughly success
full termination to consider her destruc-
ton.
Japans cruisers are now under con-
sideration. She is reported as building
is said to be of around $500 tons and
the other Of around 1000 tons. The
tonnage allotment for auxiliary COM
batant craft for Japan is 270.C00 tons.
In modern destroyers Japan is said to
have about sc. .065 tons of vessels and in
modern light cruisers. built, about $1,000
tons. In older destroyers Japan has
about $4,000 tons of ships and in older
armored and light cruisers about 110, 900
tons The total for the ships on hand Is
therefore about 241 900 tons.
number of new cruisers are under
construction which will total about
1000 tons and possibly further destroy
ers will be laid down. The total for
Japan. therefore, soon will be about
100000 or more, and a reduction will be
necessary.
To reach this tonnage severe cut
will be necessary in Japan's auxiliary
forces. There are about 5000 tons OF
old destroyers which could be done
away with. and the old cruisers Akit-
sushima, Akashi, Suma, Chitose, Tsu-
garu, Nitaka, Tsushima. Chiyoda, Asama
and Tol1iwa can be scrapped. This would
bring the auxiliary tonnage within the
limits prescribed by the Hughes plan
All the above vessels are within the age
limit for replacement this year Should
the scrapping of a further vessel be nec-
essary to take into consideration new
destroyer tonnage, the German built
cruiser Yaxumo of 300 tons is past the
age limit and can be scrapped.
Naval Holiday idea Rests.
So far as can be learned, the naval
holiday idea of Americas plan has beer
lost. No nation in the world seems to
be willing to give up the warship build
ing facilities TO the extent called fol
under the Hughes plan. 1t Is under
stood that it was once deemed advisable
to cut the holiday to one of five years
but that because of some British objec-
ton to such a plan 1t was abandoned.
1t probably would be very acceptable
10 the British to have the plan allow
for the commencement of a new shir
each year. but this is not a policy which
the United States will readily agree to
II would allow complete replacement on
the part of Japan in ten years and on
the part of Great Britain In twenty
years and in eighteen years upon the
part of the United States. The more
sensible idea appears to be to allow each
nation to replace its ships as they be-
come seventeen years OF age without
any restrictions as to when the first re-
placement shall take place.
Frances position on the matter OF sub
marines seems to have delayed an,
agreement on this phase. The American
delegates are understood to be holding
to the original proposal, the only objec'
tions to II being from the Britons. From
present indications 1t would seem thai
the submarine tonnage figures for the
three gre at naval Powers will 70 through
as planned in spite of the rather spir
tied controversy with the Britons. The