Evening star., 1921-12-29
DEADLY SUBMARINE.
N0WG0AL0F RACE.
Naval Designers to Turn e.
forts Toward Making 1t
More Destructive.
BY yUNIUs b. WOOD.


is now to be turned to developing the
submarine and light cruiser as en-
gipes of destruction. The only limit
which the conference has proposed
for their efficiency is that their dls-
placement shall not be more than
10000 tons or their guns larger than
eight inches in caliber. Only Great
Britain and the United States have
agreed to that. Italy agreed as to the
limitation of caliber, but is awaiting
instructions from Rome regarding the
tonnage limitation. japan is in prac-
tic3ily the same situation. though its
miral Balon kato RECEIVERS from his
illness sufficiently to attend a ses-
sion. France was too busy justifylng
herself at yesterdays meeting to eX-
press an opinion of this detail.
Hardly . Spot Immune.
With submarines having cruising
radius Of II 800 miles now i'll service,
there is hardly coast on the globe
or spot on the seas which cannot be
reached by their attack. Without any
restriction on their tonnage or future
development. the possibilities for the
future are limited only by the genius
Of the designers. A Limitation may be
placed upon their tonnage and upon
the caliber of the deck guns which
they carry. So far. the only limitation
proposed is resolution from Mr.. Root
requiring them in the future TO search
vessels before they are declared cap
lures of war and first TO place pas
sengers and crew in safety before the
vessel is sunk. If the submarines can
not observe these rules they must
leave merchantmen alone.
Rrit a n
pathy with the form and substance of
the resolution" Italy regarded
them with the greatest pleasure"
France rendered homage to the high
and noble spirit of which they were
the expression" Japan declared sym
pathy and hearty accord with their
aim and spirit" All attached to their
eulogies hut" to the effect that the
resolutions should be printed and
studied more carefully before they
were adopted.
No Doubt OF British Position.
The remarks of Arthur Balfour in
behalf of Great Britain did not leave
any doubts as to England's opinion on
the futility Of resolutions as a means
less and profitableless. He fatty de-
ciared that France could use the big
submarine feet for the destruction of
commerce. pointedly adding that 1t
was difficult to believe that in time of
| stress she would not do SO. He
brought his remarks to a practical
climax by declaring that if France re-
fused to abide by the Limitation of
submarines proposed by America,
| Great Britain would be obliged to
increase her anti-submarine craft TO
a similar extent. He made it clear
! that Great Britain interprets Frances
submarine program as being directed
against England's commerce, some
| thing which Frances representatives
emphatically denied.
Ratio of Navies.
According to the tonnages in sub
| marines and auxiliaries which France
demanded under instructions from
Paris, the ratio of the four navies will
be:
Great Britain ......... Se9oe !9aN0
United States ......... 90000 $4,000
France Franc - .......:...... seSS eSSS sso% sso%S
Italy does not want to increase her
| navy to the same proportions as
France, but on account of her prox-
unity feels that she must be in a
position to do SO If the occasion re-
quires.
The revised tonnages for France
are considerably larger than what
| she has at present. a situation which
caused both Chairman Hughes and
Mr.. Balfour to refer gently to the
novelty of q conference called for the
reduction of armament ending by
increasing Armament.
Would Also Cut Down Holiday.
| France emphasized the fact that
{ the ratio which she has accepted for
capital ships is rs, compared to
$50 for Great Britain, United States
| and Japan. However. in regard to
capital ships. she also served notice
I of her desire TO cut down the ten
year naval holiday to five years, so
far as she is concerned, starting to
build in 1927.
An agreement that the largest cali
| Der guns on capital ships shall be
sixteen inches. was reached. This is
| the present size on the superdread-
! naughts of Japan and the United
States. England's largest are fifteen
| inches.
The American proposal for a max
| imum displacement Of $4,000 tons for
an aeroplane- carrying ship. with a
total of $4,000 tons for Great Britain
and the United States, $4,000 for
Japan and 2S,9e0 for France and
| Italy. was presented. Great Britain
proposed a postponement of the dis
| cussion 1t is understood several
changes will be suggested, Japan, for
one, desiring at least $4,000 tons.
! Copyright. 1921