Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25
BRITAIN MOVING
NAVY TO MALTA
Pacifists View Concentration
in Mediterranean With
Alarm for Peace.

BY Gable to The Star and Nav York World.
| LONDON, July 24.-while the
League Of Nations Is talking some
what perfunctor1ly about disarmament
British pacit1sts are greatly perturbed
over the concentration of naval
strength in the Mediterranean-in
In which, however, Britain seems 20
be well ahead of all rivals.
AS pointed out by the naval expert
or the London Daily News "a decidedly
pacifist newspaper), for some years
past Britain has been quietly concen.
trating all her latest and most power
ful warships in the Mediterranean.
and the question arises for what, since
Britain is nominally on excellent terms
with the next two Mediterranean
naval powers, France and Italy.
82 Ships at Hand.
According to the latest navy list.
Admiral Sir Roger Reyes (of Zee
brugge fame, and BrItain's comnan-
der-in-chief In the Mediterranean has
at his disposal no fewer than 81
combatant ships and 20 auxiliaries, all
based on Malta. This fleet comprises
all the largest, fastest and most heav-
ily gunned units Of the British navy.
Besides his flagship, the Warspite
ships Of the Queen Elizabeth and
Royal Sovereign type. making easily
the most powerful battle squadron I'm
europe. 1t IS armed with AZ fifteen
inch guns, while the heaviest weapon
mounted In any continental battle
ship is the 13.4-inch gun.
Four Destroyer FIotiIIas.
In the Mediterranean also are the
British first and second cruiser
squadrons. including the 1o,0oO-ton
S1-knot Frobisher, armed with TO.
inch guns land the last work in most
Washington Arms Conference cruis.
ers) and seven other cruisers, all
capable Of steaming at 29 knots. Two
aircraft carriers, including the giant
Eagle, are also allotted to the fleet.
There are also four destroyer fiotilIas
commanded by a rear admiral, com.
priSlng the very latest British tyneS
and numbering 80 destroyers, with
four f1otilla leaders. Submarines are
represented by the latest az" class
boats.
France and Italy seem to have been
somewhat worried about this concen-
tration and are striving hard to main.
tain the equilibrium by adding to their
respective navies. The French Medi-
consists OF six dreadnaughts, all in
ferior In power to the British, six
cruisers, 40 destroyers and 80 sub
marines, with many more craft in re-
serve.
Italy Ahead OF France.
Except in battleships Italy Is for
the time being superior to France, as
the whole of her naval tonnage is
concentrated in Mediterranean waters.
She has five dreadnaughts and two
older battleships, 10 cruisers, SO de
stroyers and 80 submarines. France
is building six cruisers, 80 destroyers
and 81 submarines. The Italian build
ing program includes two cruisers.
16 destroyers and IL submarines.
Most Of these vessels are destined for
the Mediterranean serVice-but so are
the two great new British battleships
Nelson and Rodney. So that Admiral
Reyes still will have supremacy on
the blue waters of the finland sea-"
Britain's great naval base, Of course
remains at Malta, but France and
Italy have been extending and i'm
proving their bases. France has great
war harbors at Toulon and Bizerta,
with secondary bases at Ajaccio,
Bonifacio, Algiers and Oran. Italy is
developing q new base in Sardinia and
undermining some of her numerous
dockyardS on the mainland. In add
ton to the regular naval harbors
many naval aircraft stations have
sprung up on the Mediterranean
shores.