The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-09-29
POWERS POSTPONE
SHIP sCRAPP|NG
Destruction of Armaments Has
Been Indefinitely Halted.
EUROPEAN SITUATION ACUTE
u. S. Government Fears Great Britain
May Find 1t Necessary to Keep
Her Battleships-May Back
Out of Agreements.

Washington, Sept. 26.-Scrapping Of
naval ornaments has been halted and
Indefinitely postponed, high naval
official announced here.
This government fears that Great
Britain may find = necessary to with
draw from the agreemen altogether,
he added.
Not until the world gets on real
peace footing, it was stated, is there
likelihood that the powers will con-
sent to weaken their naval strength
in any way.
The factors responsible for this stu
alton are stated as the Near East war,
the instability of Europe in general
and the fact that neither France nor
Italy las ratified the agreements
reached here.
In keeping with the other powers 1t
was revealed for the first time that
the United States is holding onto her
effective naval vessels. The few ships
that are being strapped, it was de-
clared, are those that are obsolete and
were marked for the scrap heap be-
fore the arms conference met.
Other Powers Fully Armed.
While the other powers are fully
armed, it was given as the administra-
ton policy that the United States will
not in any way weaken her defenses.
1t was added that as a leader in seek
ing reduction of armament this gov
eminent regretted the new develop
ments but could not lead to the extent
of scrapping ships before all of the
powers actually started scrapping.
Even then, it was pointed out, the
navy will keep fully posted and not
scrap any faster than the others.
In connection with the attitude of
Great Britain, officials pointed out
that Sir Auckland Geddes, British am
bassador, made verbal reservations at
the conference to provide for delay
in making the agreements operative.
The Briton pointed out that while
his country welcomed the opportunity
to get rid of expensive ornaments
that the first consideration must be
self-defense He intimated that the
time when Great Britain would actual
ly begin to cut down could be accur-
ately marked by the time that the
world becomes safe.
Sir Auckland called at the White
House and conferred with President
Harding. He said that it wa2 friend
ly visit to pay his respects. Those
close to the administration said, how
ever, that he expressed regret that
events had delayed and would indefi-
nitely postpone the date of making
the arms pacts effective.
Japan Follows U. S. Plan.
Japan is following the line adopted
by the United States, it was stated. A
few of the obsolete ships are being
strapped, but the other units of the
navy are being kept in commission.
The six battleships of the Virginia
class are the only ones out Of commits
sion in the United States. These are
the Virginia, Rhode Island, Nebraska,
Georgia and New Jersey.
The Michigan and South Carolina,
the first two dreadnaughts built by the
navy and on their way to the scrap
heap, have been turned back. The
Connecticut, Vermont, Minnesota and
New Hampshire, also specified for
abandonment, are being retained.
Work on tx Colorado and West Vir-
ginia, sister ships of the Maryland,
the the most powerful in the navy, is
being rushed, as is construction on the
battle cruisers. The most optimistic
government official would not say when
he believed it will be possible to be-
gin reducing naval ornaments.