The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-06-20
j. s. PROPOSES To SCRAP
NAVY BY $4,000 TONS
CONTINUED from First Pages

Continued from First Page3
can proposal established four classes
Of ships to be dealt with in the
proposed new treaty, which is to
b supplemental to the Washing
ton treaty.
These classes were: the cruiser
class, the destroyer class, the sub.
marine class and an exempt class
that includes all other types such
a supply ships, tenders, mine.
gWeepers, etc.
In the cruiser class the American
proposal was that the United States
ana Great Britain limit their ton.
mage to not exceeding 100000 tons
/. as against 10000 for Japan.
Destroyer Limitations
In the destroyer class the tonnage
Limitation for Great Britain and the
United States would be 100000 as
against 10000 for Japan. In the
submarine class 10000 tons was pro-
posed as the limit for Great Britain
/ and the United States az against
! $4,000 for Japan.
In this connection Gibson inform.
ed his British and japanese collea-
CUES that the United States is will
ing to consider the abolition Of all
1 submarines IL world agreement to
7 that effect can be negotiated.
France and Italy, however, re-
1 FUSED to entertain such a proposal
Mt the Washington conferences and
M they are not active participants
Ia the present conference it is as.
Sumed that the abolition of sub
marines cannot be accomplished
here.
\ II the American plan were adopted
Ind II the limit Of cruisers was fixed
ht 800, 600 tons, and of destroyers at
$4,000 tons, the United States would
nave to scrap approximately $4,000
tons OF vessels Of either the cruiser
Or the destroyer type and $4,000 ad-
n ditional tons in these classes upon
completion Of cruisers now build
ing.
Great Britain, IL her present
eruiser building program were COM
pleted, would have to scrap ap-
proximately 10000 tons Of the cruiser
and destroyer class.
q. 8. to Scrap Submarines
On the basis Of a submarine linn.
atation Of 10000 tons for the United
States and Great Britain and $4,000
acr Japan, the United States, upon
the completion of her present build.
ing program. would have to scrap
Apr oximately $500 tons of sub
marines; Great Britain and Japan
would be required to scrap none.
The proposed treaty provides for
q gradual system Of replacement Of
old vessels with new ones.
The American program, while 1t
apparently makes the United States
sacrifice more actual tonnage than
the other powers, nevertheless has
considerable material advantages
from the standpoint of American
naval efficiency. The United States
Navy today is greatly overstocked
with destroyers that are now tied
up and rusting at their docks at
River at jamestown, Va. If the
American program is accepted by
Great Britain and Japan, these
destroyers will be sacrificed for new
and up-to-date cruiser tonnage, the
American Navy being now consid-
erably deficient in light cruiser
strength.
British Proposal
Among the British proposals were
offered by the Hon, w. C. Bridge.
man, First Lord of the British Ad-
mira1ty. The proposals were, in
brief, as follows:
The tonnage Of battleships should
be reduced from $4,000 tons to 80 900
tons;
Tho size of guns on capital ships
should be reduced from Is inches to
13h inches;
The displacement OF AIRCRAFT car.
fiers should be limited to Is, 900 tons
instead Of $1,000 tons as at present:
Guns on aircraft carriers should
be reduced from inches to s inches:
The present 5-5.3 ratio should be
applied to cruisers Of 10000 tons
carrying S.inch guns;
The effective life OF capital ships
should be extended from twenty to
twenty-six years:
Limit ON Cruisers
All future cruisers, after the
number of 10,000-ton cruisers has
been fixed. should be limited to
$500 tons and 6.inch guns:
Displacement of destroyer leaders
should be limited to 1850 tons, and
destroyers to 1,400 tons;
I'VE also think it advisable to
discuss the possibilities of limiting
the Number Of submarines, accord