Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-10

Continued from First Page)
lively that the tonnage for Britain
and the United States be 100000 tons
each, with something over 5000
tons for Japan.
Out of this conflict of views the
delegations at the Geneva conference
are expected to bring about some kind
of compromise which may be salts
factory. The situation has not been
helped by the attitude of w. c.
Bridgeman. first lord of the British
admiralty and head of the British
delegation, who has characterized
the American opposition to curtailing
the size of cruisers as an insistence
upon navy vessels of an aggressive
type rather than merely defensive.
1t was recalled here yesterday
afternoon in official circles that at the
Washington conference Lord Balfour,
who headed the British delegation
supported the proposal of 10000 tons
as the maximum tonnage for cruisers
armed with guns not exceeding 8
inches in caliber.
Built First 1O,0OO-TOn Cruiser.
After the Washington naval treaty
was signed, Britain was the first to
lay down a 10,000-ton cruiser, the
Suffolk, in September, 1924. Today
Britain has thirteen 10,000-ton cruisers
building and one appropriated for, in
addition to one 8,000-ton vessel build
ing and two appropriated for.
Japan also has proceeded with big
cruiser program since the Washing
ton conference. The first 10,OO0-ton
cruiser laid down by the japanese was
the Myoko, in October, 1924 Japan
now has four cruisers of this type
building, four more appropriated for
and another four projected
The United States, however, having
given up its naval supremacy and
agreed to equality with Great Britain
and 5-3 ratio with Japan so far as
capital ships was concerned, did not
| concern itself with a naval building
program, hoping before long to reach
| some agreement regarding auxiliary
| naval craft. So the United States did
not lay down 10,000-ton cruiser un.
I'll october 1926. has eight cruisers OF
this class building or appropriated for
| Clearly the United States has per.
! mitted itself to be outstripped in the
cruiser program.
Fits TT n Naval Plans.
Now comes the British proposal for
large number Of 7,500-ton cruisers
1t creates q class of vessels particu
larly suited to the British require
ments, but not so well suite! to the
NATIONAL defense needs of the United
States II fits in well with the British
naval plans because of the large num-
Der of naval bases possessed by Britain
| and because of the large, swift mer
al MT Acnf IF he D,,;+ ;cl,
conversion in wartime to active cruiser
duty.
To say that the 7,500ton cruiser is
purely defensive is absurd, in the
opinion Of authorities here. 1t is
pointed out that every class of war
vessels can be used Extensively, and
in the event of a war Britain's many
cruisers would be so used in an emer
gency. Cruisers used to protect trade
rcIteS can accomplish their mission
best by sweeping clear of the seas IL
er2my merchant and cruiser tonnage
This can only he classed as offensive
&c ton.
Furthermore. the proposed limita
ton of size and caliber of guns OF
cruiser works TO the advantage OF
Great Britain because it makes avail
able their 40 or more hiGh.powereC
! y
with no larger type of cruisers to con
tend with them.
The United States is lacking in navy
bases and high speed merchant yes
sells. The l0,000-ton cruiser, with
greater radius Of operations becomes
| essential, American naval men con
| tend. to American National defense
! and the protection of American com
| merce.
L. S. Gave Up Supremacy.
America gave up its sea supremacy
| in the form of a great battle fleet
/ Quilt and building i'll 1922 at the
! WASHINGTON conference. AS Il result
| of the Washington naval treaty, the
| United States scrappc1 50 vessels OF
! 1889 tons. OF these ships 10 were
! building. the .Gost modern and up to-
! date fighting craft. Great Britain
! on her part strapped 447.750 tons and
! iour ships in the blueprint stage.
At Geneva today tie boot is on the
her leg. = supremacy is all with
Ca. PtitH'n The Am1klcan autholi