Evening star., 1923-03-30
'D,ATA ON NAv|ES
WILL Be VERIFIED
Department Takes Steps to
Prove Authenticity Of All
information in Files.


All inforne .tion in the files of the
government here bearing upon the
worlds prime \)al navies is to be prop
erly classified as to source Of origin
and character ,of authenticity, 1t was
learned yesterday. This step, designed
to prevent a re currence of the Incl
dent which rect\ntly led to the with
drawal by Secretary Hughes Of GER
tain comments IA British naval ac-
tivity. may RESULT in each Of the ma
tions signatory u, the Washington
naval treaty beings put on record IS
to their programs, under the pro-
visions of that agrel ,ment.
Under orders whi,sh have lust been
issued d careful REVISION Of al data
is TO be made and that derived frcm
unothclal sources. no \matter now re-
iiable' ithile well be plai ly y, so Labeled;
substantiated will be Needed out.
May Ask Govern Aments.
American naval atta,ahes. formin :
the principal source of II he data Upon
which the department and govern
ment depends, have beent instructed
to use every legitimate smethod in
assisting the work. 1t is be Aeved that
will be to make a formal request
upon the government to W Aich they
are assigned for the Information de-
sired.
The attitude of the various admiral
ties TO such an approach Is awaited
with deep interest by officials here
as having more than routine bear
ing upon the controversy which, has
arisen as to the Interpretation 10 be
placed on some clauses OF the naval
agreement.
While accuracy Of the official
records is the primary purpose of the
work now III progress by the \ Navy
Department. there is also the int en-
tion to have available for PresidtGt
Harding when he takes up the queSA-
ton of modernizing the American
Navy all possible data bearing on
the subject. A conference will be hel&
on the subject as soon as Mr.. Harding
, returns to Washington.
Believe Program Essential
The opinion held generally by the
Navy, without reference to that Of
any one of its executive officers is
that the program presented to the
last Congress is essential to insure
a balanced fighting force, adequate
20 meet the responsibilities arising
out of the nations interests. The
secondary premise is that the pro-
gram does not violate any interna-
tional agreement. but naval officers
/
dent for determination.
In at least two instances, the OFF,
cial files have been modified already
in their references to naval programs.
The denial of the British that any
range elevation had been effected
, neceSsitated complete review Of all
data bearing. on the grand fleet.
French Plan Changes.
Recently official advices have given
upon by the French for increasing
the battle efficiency OF the fleet al
loted them under the 5-5-3 ratio.
This includes. according to the French
budget. the expenditure of more than
100000 francs in 1929 and a like
amount in 1923, largely in alterations
upon the first-line battleships. The
fleet elevation in the French navy is
authority. giving range in excess
of the battle range of both the Brit
ish and American fleets.
OF the seven battleships included
in the French reconstruction pro-
gram. two are said to have been sent
already to drydock and preparations
are being made to start operations
on four others.
Analysis of the French budget
items indicated to naval experts here
installation Of modern fire control
apparatus. next to the elevation
changes.
While the French navy does not
occupy the potentially important po-
Sition of the British or japanese, pro-
ponents of the American moderniza-
tion program insist that the principle
involved is the same with reference
to it's control by the inhibitions Of
the Washington treaty.
Dozens Of feminine students in the
three great universities of Chile are