Arizona republican., 1922-02-09
GOVERNMENT
.HALTS WORK
ION FOURTEEN
BATTLESH|PS
First Step To Carry Out
Provisions Of Naval
Treaty Taken BY DENLY
On Orders From Harding
rRepubllean A. p. Leased WireI

rRepubllean a. p. Leased Wire1
WASHINGTON, Feb. S-Construc-
tion work on II capital ships was
suspended today by order of Secre-
tary DENLY under direction OF Presi-
dent Harding The step was taken
in anticipation Of ratification of the
naval limitation treaty which result
ed from the Washington conference
and under which only three of the
vessels involved will be completed as
war craft. The other IL will be
scrapped or converted TO merchant
ships under the treaty.
Secretary DENLY acted after Assist
ant Secretary Roosevelt had dis
cussed with President Harding the
terms of the treaty affecting the new
ships Mr.. Harding approved the sug-
gestion that the work be halted im-
mediately on the eight superdread-
naughts and six battle cruisers pend
ing final action on the treaty. The
building operations thus halted have
cost the government approximately
$4,000, 900 a month. Following rati-
fication OF the treaty, contracts for
the new ships will be cancelled. The
ultimate cost to the government OF
this cancellation cannot be deter
mined, but naval officials believe a
considerable saving will be made
through today's action.
Only one capital ship under con-
struction was exempted from to-
days suspension order. She is the
Colorado more than 80 per cent com
pleted, and which will be retained
in the permanent fleet.
Ships Under Construction
Vessels on which work was or
dered stopped included eight first
class battleships. the Washington. the
West Virginia, South Dakota, Indi
ana, Montana, North Carolina, Iowa
and Massachusetts. Work was also
ordered suspended on the battle
cruisers Lexington, Constellation,
Saratoga. Ranger, Constitution and
United States.
While work on the battleshipS West
Virginia and Washington was or
dered stopped, one win be completed
and added to the fleet. Which is TO
be selected has not been decided. but
it has been indiacted that the West
Virginia probably will be named It
is believed by navy offiials that she
can be finished more cheaply than the
Washington. sister ship Of the Port
Jutland class like the Colorado.
With the Colorado the vessel se-
lected for completion, will make up
the two battleships "of the West
Virginia class" which the United
States is t. retain 10 replace the
Delaware and North Dakota which
will be scrapped on completion Of the
new vessels. The two form the Amer
lean equivalent under hhe 5-5-3 naval
ratio agreement OF the treaty for
Japanese retention of the battleship
Mutsu.
The other battleships upon which
ufA "a na
40, 900 ton type, armed with twelve
16-inch guns excluded from future
naval establishments OF the treaty
powers.
or the six battle cruisers. two are
to be completed as airplane carriers.
but work of converting them to that
type will not be undertaken until the
treaty has been ratified.
Sell Obsolete Ships
Further steps toward the carrying
into execution of the naval treaty
will be taken by the navy department.
with the sale OF obsolete pre- dread
naughts slated for scrapping. 1t MAS
said that this work would be done
prior to the ratification OF the treaty
since the vessels are regarded as of
no military value. Two such old
were sold for junk during
the conference.
Secretary Dcnbys suspension or
der was the first major step toward
out the treaty. AS yet plans
for actual scrapping Of the vessels as
by the treaty within a fixed
time after ratification by all sigma
tory powers have not been completed.
A special technical board of officers
Is working out details OF this pro-
gram. The board is TO recommend
the best method of scrapping to be
with each new or old ship
TO be disposed Of
President Harding approved the
of work on the new ships
even before he received the report Of
The American delegation. The report
was in the printers hands today. IL
may. be presented to the President
tomorrow. The document was said
10 cover more than 100 pages, includ-
Ill the treaties and resolutions OF the
conference as well as a full history
)f the negotiations and explanations
)f the various agreements and OF the
reasons that prevented agreements
n such cases as land ornaments,
submarines, auxiliary craft tonnase,
and similar matters ON
he agenda of the conference.
1t was expected the President
would require day or two before
the treaties to the
senate.
Tho view was expressed that the
'eport would go far TO clear up much
II the misapprehension concerning
ome of the treaties.