Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1922-01-13
Arms Conference Receives the
Completed Program for
Naval Reduction.
"SUB" TONNAGE NOT LIMITED
chita Delegates Reveal Alleged Fran
eo-Japanese Secret AIiance-Allied
Supreme Council at Cannes-Bit-
ter Debate Over Irish Treaty
in Dali Eireann.
By EDWARD W. PICkARD

WITH its work almost completed
w so far as it can be, the arma-
ment conference at Washington met in
plenary session at the close OF the
week and heard report Of the pro-
gram for naval reduction and limita-
ton as completed by the naval com
mlttee and its corps Of experts The
treaty for teI-year naval holiday to
be entered into by the five principal
powers Of the world was presented
together with the technical details
for carrying 1t out.
AS finally decided upon, the agree
ment is not so drastic In its plan for
reductions as was proposed by the
American delegation. but the fact re-
mains that 1t puts an end, for dec
ade, to the navy building race that
threatened to swamp the taxpayers OF
several nations, and 1t Is admittedly
q great step toward world peace.
Notifications OF the original plan re-
suited In slight increases In the ton
mage limits, and 1t is asserted these
changes really strengthen relatively
the American navy.
For the United States. Great Britain,
Japan, France and Italy, the capital
ship ratio Is 5-5-3-1 67-1.67. The tonnage
allowed America and Britain Is raised
from 100000 to $4,000 each, and that
of the others is proportionately In
creased. France is permitted TO build
a limited number Of capital ships dur
ing the ten-year period, and Great
Britain may construct two 31OOO-t0n
vessels OF the Hood type. France
won out In her contentious concerning
submarines and auxiliary craft. No
limit is placed on the aggregate ton
mage of these vessels, but their max
imum size and gun caliber is fixed. A
limit of 10000 tons each is put on aux
Hilary ships and light cruisers, and
their guns are not to exceed eight
inches. The ratio for alrplane car
riers Is to be 5-5-3-2.22-2.2 and the
maximum tonnage for the two largest
powers $4,000 These vessels are
limited TO a tonnage Of 27,OOO each,
and their gun caliber is restricted.
American naval officers, II is as
serted, rejolced over Japap's success
full demand that she be allowed TO re-
tain the dreadnaught Mutsu and
Frances persistence regarding subma-
rlnes and auxiliary ships. In both
cases the necessary adjustments re-
bounded to the relative strengthening
Of Americas navy. 1t retains two al
most completed dreadnaughts, and II
will have almost as great a tonnage
In submarines as II first proposed in
stead of only 60.O00 tons, the point
to which the American delegates were
about to recede when Great Britain
asked the abolishlng of the U-boat.
The British announced that II France
had Il great submarine feet, they must
he permitted to build as many auxiliary
cruisers as they wished, and 1t Is now
agreed America will equal the British
fleet In every respect.
At this writing there appears TO be
little doubt OF the approval by the
conference OF the Root resolutions de-
claring the employment Of submarines
against commerce as piracy, and Mr..
Balfours amendment under which the
banning Of submarine operations
against merchantmen shall become Inn
medlately effective as among the five
major powers.