Evening journal., 1922-02-09
SUSPEND WORK
ON "A WARSHIPS
Navy Department Acts in
Anticipation of Ratihca-
tion of Treaty
JAPAN STOPS
ON EIGHT SHIPS

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-Con-
struction work on fourteen capita
ships has been suspended by order
of Secretary Denny under the direc-
ton OF President Harding The step
was taken ycst erday IN anticipation
OF ratification OF tho naval Imitation
treaty which resulted from the Wash
ington conference, and under which
only three OF the vessels involved
will be completed as warcraft Tho
other eleven will be strapped or
converted to merchant ships under
the treaty provisions.
Secretary DENLY acted after AS
sistant Secretary Roosevelt had dis
cussed with President Harding the
terms Of the treaty affecting the new
ships. Mr.. Harding approved the
suggestion that work be brought 90
standstnl Immediately on the eight
super dreadnaughts and six battle
cruisers pending final action on the
treaty. In round figures the build
ing operations thus halted have cost
the government approximately S.
600, 900 a month
Following re'i''. alton Of the treaty.
contracts for new ships will be
cancelled. The ultimate cost TO the
government OF this cancellation can
not be determined in advance. but
naval officials believe that a con-
q siderable saving will be made
through yesterdays action.
only one capital ship under con-
q struction was exempted from the
suspc nsion order. She is he Colo
RADIO. more than ninety per cent
complete and which will be retained
in the permanent fleet.
The order includes the hattleshin
washington at the New York ship
building Corporation, on the Della
ware; the battle cruiser Saratoga
at the same plant. and the two bat
tile cruisers Constitution and United
states. under construction al the
Philadelphia Navy Yard.
While work on the battleship'
West virginia and Washington wa
ordered stopped. one Of these ship
will be completed and added 10 th'
feet when hnishd. Which Is to b'
selected for completion has not beer
decided, but II has been indicated
that the West Virginia probably WI
be named: II is believed by nav
officials that she can be finished
more cheaply than the Washington
a sister ship Of the Post-Jutlan'
class like the Colorado.
with the Colorado. the vessel thu
selected for completion. will maxi
pp the two battleships "of the Yves
virginia class" which the Unite'
states Is to retain TO replace the Del
aware and North Dakota OF the pres
ent fleet which will be strapped oi
completion Of the new vessels. tn
rwo form the American equivalen
under the hve-hve-three naval rati
agreement OF the treaty for Japanes
retention OF the battleship Mutsu.
The other oattleships on which
work was stopped are OF the 10000
ton type. armed with twelve 16-incl
guns. excluded from future naval es
adjustments OF the treaty Powers.
OF the six battle cruisers, two arr
to be completed as airplane carriers
but work OF converting them 20 tina
type Will not be undertaken unit
she treaty has been ratified. Plan
for the conversion in accordance
with treaty restrictions are now h
preparation. Three OF the ships ar
practically at the same point il
construction. The two TO be retain
81 have not been selected.
Secretary Denbys suspension orde
was the first major step towar
carrying out the Limitation treat,
President Harding approved the sus
= pension OF work on the new ship
even before the report OF the Amer
3can Conference delegation reache
his hands.