Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-21

Washington. March e0-Public
statements made by officials OF the
United States government to the eff
feet that substantial alterations had
been effected in British capital ships
to increase their battle range and
| corrected today by both the state
and navy departments.
Acting on the assurance Of the
British government that their in
formation was inaccurate, Secretary
Hughes recalled the reference he
ha' made to the British naval modi-
fications in his speech at New Haven
last December, and Acting Secretary
Roosevelt took similar action with
respect to statements he had made
| before congressional committees
At both departments it was indi-
Gated that the corrections had been
made after the British government
had called attention to the effect in
Great Britain of repeated references
| by high public officials in the UDited
States to changes in the status of
the British treaty feet.
WI. LIISiiCo StdlShicHL was as lOI~
lows:
"In my speech at New Haven on
December 20. 1922, ! made the fol-
lowing statement with respect to al
| terations in the British capital
Ships:
1.-The result IL that in a consid-
cradle number Of British ships
bulges have been fitted, elevations
of turret guns increased and turret
loading arrangements modified to
! conform TO Increased elevations
'In making this statement. I relied
/ upon specific information which had
! been furnished by the Navy Depart
mcnt and which, Of course. the Navy
Department believed to be entirely
| Trustworthy.
"The Department Of State has
: been advised by the British govern
rnent categorically that no altera-
tons have been made irf the eleva-
ton of the turret guns Of any Brit
ish capital ships since they were
placed in commission and further
! has been provided since February 6,
1922. the date Of the signing Of the
| WASHINGTON treaty
1T gives me pleasure to make this
correction as it Is desired that there
should be no public niisapprehen-
sion"
Secretary Roosevelt assumed re-
sronsibility for the data used by
Secretary Hughes. but declared It
had been based on information be-
lieved to be reliable by the depart
ment."
The naval secretary issued the fol-
lowing statement:
The Navy Department In the
hearings before Congress, stated that
the elevation Of the turret guns on
the British capital ships had been
md was being increased. This state
ment was based on information be-
lieved to be thoroughly reliable by
the department.
The British admiralty has in
formed the department that this Is
not the case and that the elevation
OF the turret guns on the British
capital ships is the same as when
these ships were originally commits
stoned. This places the matter be-
yond further question and the de-
partment takes pleasure in correct
it's previous statement in consonance
with the above"
Mr.. Roosevelt. in reply TO ques-
tons as to the source Of the depart
ment's information. would only say
that no officer could be held culpabIe
because Of an erroneous report in
this connection. a canvass Of naval
officers who were on duty with the
British navy during the war resulted
in the unanimous declaration that
high British officers were, themseI-
YES, authority for the statement that
the elevation Of their capital ship
turret guns had been Increased from
"a 900 to 10000 yards. Further evil
dence. they said, was given by the
annual British naval publication
which has enjoyed practically official
status for decades. In the last three
issues, it has listed the British main
feet az having uniform turret ele-
walton OF 10000 yards az contrasted
with the $4,000 yard range for which
they were originally constructed.
It was learned that Mr.. Roosevelt
took occasion before adjournment OF
Congress to call it to the attention
OF the chairmen Of both the Senate
and House naval committees that
some doubt had been cast on the data
given by him in the hearings on the
proposed appropriation Of $500. goo
to "modernize" the American battle
fleet Emphasis was placed during
the hearings by naval officers on the |
disparity between the re-mGdelIe
British fleet and the American first |
line ships.