Evening star., 1923-03-21
NAVY DATA BRITAIN
GAVE j. S. SEEN AS
REPLY TO COMMONS
Admiralty Declares Ships
Have Not Been Altered by
Increasing Gun Range.
TREATY CLOSELY STUDIED
Attitude of Parliament and Con-
gress on Pact Given
Attention.
TREATY CLOSELY STUDIED

The purpose of the British govern
ment in informing the United States
that its warships had not been alter
ed by increasing gun range and de-
fensive armament is interpreted in
naval quarters here as having prob
ably been intended to answer charges
in parliament that the admiralty was
violating the Washington treaty
Whether an intimation was intended
that this country also purposed 2
violation OF the agreement was the
subject of extensive speculation,
In view Of attacks in Congress a.
the time a s6,5OO,0O0 appropriation
was made for 'modernlzlng" Ameri
can ships. and the Developments
brought by the British disclaimer.
considerable study was being given
today TO the convention which set up
the 5-5-3 ratio. 1t provided:
Provisions of Treaty.
No retained capital ships shall be
reconstructed except for the purpose
of providing means Of defense against
air and submarine attack, and sub
Ject to the following rules:
The contracting powers may for
that purpose equip existing tonnage
with bulge or blister or anti-aircraft
deck protection. providing the in
crease or displacement thus effected
does not exceed 1000 tons for each
shin.
mo alterations in side armor, in
caliber, number or general type of
mounting or main armament shall be
Majority opinion in the American
Navy holds the prohibition against
change in general type of mount
ing" would not cover alterations in
the easement to permit higher eleva-
tiop.
There was decided disposition,
however, among members of Con-
gresS during consideration of the ap-
preparation To interpret the general
limitation in the paragraph to recon
struction against air and submarine
the main batteries.
British Met L. s.
British naval estimates for 1919
1870, conforming in status to q con-
grcssional document in the United
States, are said to have contained a
large appropriation for ships under
reconstruction" and stated the amount
already expended for air. or sub
marine defense on the battleship
Repulse alone to have been fS6O.0O0
and on the Royal Sovereign 951O.00O
Estimates for similar work during
1923 were given as f73. 900 for the
Renown and $4,000 for the Royal
Oak.
A further item for ships undergo
ing large repairs" in the 1922 'esti-
mates set aside 923O.000 for the En-
peror Of India and G132,O00 for the
Tiger.
Naval authorities pointed to these
items as evidence that Great Britain
had in recent years gone far in car
rying out program to fit her fleet
TO meet air and submarine attack.
Secretary of State Hughes and Act
ing Secretary of the Navy Roose-
Welt yesterday corrected public state
ments they had made to the effect
that substantial alterations had
been made in British capital ships,
which would increase their battle
range and defensive armament
Both departments, acting on as
surances from the British govern
ment that information at hand which
had prompted such public comment
was inaccurate, announced that ii
gave them pleasure to correct those
remarks. Secretary Hughes and Col.
Roosevelt declared they had relied
upon specific information which had
been furnished by the Navy Depart
ment and which was believed to be
entirely trustworthy and thoroughly
reliable.
Secretary Hughes Statement.
The Department of State" said
Secretary Hughes. has been advised
by the British government, cate
gorically, that no alterations have
been made in the elevation of the
turret guns of any British capital
ships since they were placed in COM
mission and. further. that no addi-
tional deck protection has been pro-
vided since February s, 1922. the
date of the signing of the Washing
ton treaty"
Secretary Hughes in his New
Haven. Conn, address of last Decem-
ber. made the following statement
with respect to alterations in the
British capital ships:
THE result is that in a consider
able number of British ships bulges
have heen fitted. elevations of tur-
ret guns increased and turret load
ing arrangements modified to con-
form to increased elevations"
Acting Secretary Roosevelt had
ITontinIIed On Pare Column .