San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-17
Actual Scrapping Of First
Line Ships to Begin
Immediately.
WARSHIPS FOR JUNK
Powers Representatives
Formally Exchange
Ratifications.

washington, ~. -. mug. IL he
naval limitation treaty ,and the four
power pact negotiated at the WASH
ington arms conference finally became
effective today when representatives
of all the signatory powers gathered
AT the State Department and formal
ly exchanged notifications.
The formality took place shortly
after noon and was unaccompanied by
any public ceremony.
The actual scrapping of first line
ships under the naval treaty will be-
gin, Immediately and, by the terms of
the four-power pact, the Anglo-Jap-
anese alliance is terminated auto
matieally by today's exchange of rat
ifications.
Secretary Hughes presided at n
meeting of diplomats, which took place
in the diplomatic reception room at
the State Department. The secretary
sat at the head of the table, with
Counsellor Chiffon, charge of the Brit
ish embassy, on his RICH, ;nd and An
Dire de Ia Boulaye, French charge. at
his left. Augusta Rosso. ltaliaI
charge. sat beside Mr.. Chiffon and
Ambassador Hanihara of Japan sat
beside the French charge.
Quick Action Ordered.
Machinery already set up by the
navy for the demolition of stated
amount of tonnage under the naval
treaty was placed in motion as sooh
as the exchange had been completed.
Arrangements had been made by Act
ing Secretary Roosevelt whereby the
State Department notified naval off
Gals the moment the treaty was con-
sidered in full force, and orders were
sem at once 10 the various builders
and to principal metal deelers setting
forth the procedure under which fe-
duction of the American navy would
be accomplished.
Twenty eight capital ships, with an
aggregate tonnage of approximately
$50, 600, are to be dropped from the
American navy under the treaty. They
were divided by the department for
scrapping. purposes into three classes :;
Ships under construction at private
yards ships under construction at
navy cards, and old fps.
In the case OF ships in The first
class, builders were requested today
by the department to submit estimates
for purchase Of the hulk on the stacks
for reduction Tor scrap metal, and Il
separate estimate for breaking the ship
up so that the, navy may offer the
scrap TO other bidders. The contractors
were notified at the same time TO sub
NIT a final estimate of all charges and
claims against the government arising
out of abrogation of their contracts.
Old Ships to BE Razed.
Ships in the second class. at navy
yards. will be ADVERTISED for sale with
in n few days to the highest bidder,
who will be required 20 reduce them
to "metal or scrap s'ze." Most of
the old ships will be disposed of by
sale on the same terms as were re-
quired in the recent razing of the
Maine, Missouri. Ohio and Kentucky,
which were transferred TO scrap deal
ers.
Four exceptions among he older
ships have been made by the depart
ment. the Washington and South Cac-
olina being marked for use in expert
ments in submarine ard air attacks,
and the New Jersey and Virginia hav-
ing been set aside for use of army air
bombers in the practice maneuyers 70
be held next month. In case any of
these four ships are not sunk during
the experiments they will be disposed
of by sale for scrapipng or demolished
by the government