Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-19
WASHINGTON
DAY BY DAY
(From orr Special Correspondent.)

Washington, Dec. 19.-Although
France has made impossible and un,
reasonable demands for naval
strength that at first glance seem
to affect the chances for the success
of the armament conference, su-
preme confidence exists in the Amer
lean delegation that a way will be
found out of the difficulty and that
within a comparatively short time.
It is suggested by the Americans
that the French have put forth their
demands more with the idea of COM
pelling a complete statement Of the
details of the agreement Of the Big
Three than anything else. 1t is sug-
pested that the French have been
left in the dark on the negotiations be
tween the Big Three and that they
are desirous Of being let in on what
ever agreements or understandings
reached which were not put on paper
AS a matter of fact France is making
this demand for battleships at pres
ent in order to strengthen her hand
in favor of increased submarine
tonnage.
It can be stated authoritatively
that contained in the naval agree
ment of the Big Three-the United
States, Great Britain and Japan
the naval ratios are provided on
sliding scale.
If any nation in the world not in
cluded in the naval agreement
should start building battleships Oh
any large scale which might threat
en- to give that nation navy which
could menace any of the Big Three,
these nations could. by agreement
increase their navies 10-1O-6 or
1919 or some other proportionate
basis. In other words, the ratio
stands, but the amount OF tonnage
might be increased at some future
time.
Also the tonnage might be de-
creased, if the nations find their eX-
pertinent in limitation success, and
they might meet again in five years
to divide by two the number OF ships
now allowed. In this event the ratio
would still stand.
This understanding that the ratio
provides sliding scale is peculiarly
to the situation created
by the French. Should they insist
which they will not do-on following
out a plan to, build ten $4,000 ton
ships, Great Britain, the United
States and Japan could multiply their,
capital ship agreement by any num-
ber sufficient to meet the possible
from French construction.
with the arrest of Wolfe Lin
denfeld in Warsaw " declared Will
liam j. Burns, Chief of the Bureau
of Investigation of the Department
of Justice, 81 believe that the United
States government has rounded up
the leaders in the Wall Street bomb
outrage of year ago last Septem-
ber."
Burns explained that the record
of Lindenfeld is we'll known to the
Department of Justice and police Of
ficials of New York. Burns says
that five other men were implicated
in the explosion so far as investiga-
ton has developed and that the ap
prehension of the entire gang is
merely a matter of a few days now
that the ring leader has been taken
into custody.
Four candidates for the postmas-
tership at Alexandria have entered
the field. Postmaster General Hays
has received the applications of Thos.
H. Bayne, Edmund H. Roberts, Chas.
S. Stoler and Ferdinand G.. Knight
for the office. The Civil Service
Commission will hold an examina-
ton on December 20 of those whose
applications have been filed at the
Postoffice Department. It was stated
at the Department today that in all
probability before the date for the
examination other candidates will
enter the race.
The term of Dr. William Smith,
present postmaster at Alexandria.
does not expire until January "a of
next year, but as the office pays
SIS 800 year, the Postoffice Depart
ment officials expressed some sur.
prise today that more men had not
announced themselves as candidates.
Up to the present time Representa-
tive Slemp, the Republican dictator
of patronage in the Old Dominion
has not indicated whom he will sup