Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-11-29
HOUSE TO CONSIDER
ELEVATION OF GUNS.
Committee to Take Up Pro.
posaI Without Reference to
Arms Treaty Angle.

The question whether the raising
of the elevation of main battery guns
on a number of the older American
battleships would be in violation of
the Washington arms limitation
treaty Is not expected to be raised
when the proposal for such elevation
comes up in the House naval com
mittee. and the discussion probably
Will be confined to the advisability
Of making the necessary expenditure.
Recommendation made by Admiral
Eberle, chief of naval operations, in
his annual report, that the guns on
10 ships be elevated, have served to
bring the question to the front In
that connection 1t was disclosed that
Secretary Wilbur Is preparing, at the
request OF Chairman French of the
naval subcommittee of the House
appropriations committee, an extern
sive statement on conditions in the
naval service which will include a
review of the situation as to gun
elevation. The Secretary's statement
is expected to be in the hands OF the
subcommittee before 1t takes up The
naval estimates for the coming fiscal
year.
Cost Would BE Heavy.
So far as can be learned. the main
question as to gun elevation which
will be presented to the subcommittee
Will have to do with the fact that the
alteration proposed would be very ex-
pensiVe, and that some Of the ships
which would be altered Will be sub
tect to replacement with new ships
In approximately 10 years. Secretary
Hughes called attention to this situa-
ton In discussing gun elevation dur
ing a campaign address delivered in
New York on November ]. The Sec
rotary OF State at that time said the
whole matter Of gun elevation was one
for consideration as an economic prob
lem by Congress. and he expressed the
belief that Congress would so dispose
of it
Taken in connection with the pro-
posal advanced by the British govern
ment some months ago to the United
States and other powers signatory to
the Washington treaty that there
should be a further conference to de-
termine the expected Interpretation Of
certain clauses of the treaty, Mr..
Hughes statements in New York were
then viewed as significant. The Brit
tsh communication specifically pre-
sented the view that elevation of guns
on battleships was prescribed by that
section Of the treaty which forbids
changes in general types of gun mark
ingS on battleshipS to be retained No
formal statement Of the opinion of the
Washington Government has been
made since that time except as II was
disclosed in Mr.. Hughes remarks dur
Ing the campaign.
Elevation Unmentioned.
II Is not known whether any def
mite reply has been made to the Brit
ish proposal. In his New York ad-
dress. however. Mr.. Hughes said fiat
ly that the gun elevation matter had
never been mentioned during the
Washington conference so far as he
knew. and this statement conforms TO
the previous understanding that the
restriction contained in the clause TO
which the British communication
called attention was proposed for the
purpose of preventing the practical
reconstruction and rearmament Of old
battleships under the guise of minor
alterations.
Beyond question, American official
opinion holds that the proposed in
creases in elevation are no more than
minor changes and well within work
permissible under the treaty II was
OF MIR. Hughes that in the case of any
new ship to be built under the treaty
in replacement there was no question
whatever as to the right TO provide
for full elevation and maximum gun
range.
Wilbur FavOrs Changes.
Secretary Wilbur's statement to
Chairman French is expected to cover
many aspects of plans for modernfza-
ton Of the battleships of the feet
which have been under consideration
for some time. Mr.. Wilbur himself
has indicated that he shared the
views of high naval officers that the
guns should be elevated, but no in
formation has been made available
as to what the administrations atti-
tude will be when Congress convenes.
The original gun elevation bill went
tion measure on the strength of a re-
port that the British had made similar
changes in their older ships after the
Washington conference was held.
This proved to be incorrect, and the
funds were turned back to the
Treasury.
Whether an administration proposal
to renew the elevation appropriation
will be laid before Congress or
whether the administration program
is framed in the view that this would
be unwise at present Is not known.
There have been indications from
several sources, however. that indi-
vidual members of Congress in both
houses intend to introduce bills on
their own motion seeking to make
funds available at once for modernf-
cation OF the ships, including the rails
Ing % gun elevations