Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-23
M'KELLAR FAVORS
ADVOCATING PACT
BattIeships Limitation Only
Limits U. S.. Declares
Senator on Floor.

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By the Associated Press.
Senator Mcclellan Democrat, Ten
nessee, said in the Senate today the
United states should abrogate the
Washington armament treaty placing
limit on battleships when 1t expires in
1885 and for the present make no other
agreement"
So far as the present cruiser limita-
ton negotiations are concerned, the
Senator said, Its really material fea-
ture" is to limit the United States so
that this country will be unable to
build a Navy as great as that Of Great
Britain.
Sound naval policy for this coun-
try" he added, lis to build a Navy as
large as our needs call for-unfettered
and unhampered by any agreement"
The Senator said he would vote to
ratify a naval treaty. however, If the
agreement provided for an absolute
parity between the United States and
Great Britain.
Draft as Supplemental.
Acceptance by the principal naval
powers of the American proposals Tor
an extension of the 10 years holiday
in the construction of capital ships TO
1S wears would make necessary the
negotiation of a supplemental draft to
the first naval limitation treaty signed
here eight years ago.
The expectation here is that the
American proposition will be agreed to
bv Great Britain. Japan. France and
Italy at the projected limitation con-
ference In London next January. WIN
saving Of millions to each nation pc
tween 1891 and 1886, since many OF the
present ships would be replaced during
that time.
sarded as more than likely to contain
= provision under which Great Britain
and the United States would reduce
their capital ship fleets to Is craft, as
provided for in the 1921 pact. whether
the retirement OF existing craft WOULD
be on the schedule laid down in the
original treaty is matter for determl-
nation by the conference.
Britain Would Scrap Five.
Under the Washington agreement.
Great britain would retire five OF its
present 20 capital ships. while the
United States would place three out OF
commission by 1886, the date OF the
expiration of the agreement. This
would bring each feet down to the ulti-
mate treaty total of Is for each nation.
The three ships now constituting the
backbone of the scouting fleet, Whlch
is based on the Atlantic, probably would
be the craft this Nation would place out
of commission They are the Utah,
which carried President Hoover on the
last Ian OF his good will tour to Latln
America: the Florida and the Wyoming.
The Utah and Florida will reach the
age limit of 20 years in 1881 and the
wyoming in 1882.
Should ! these three battleships be
decommiSSioned at that time, millions
in maintenance cost would be saved 10
the Government and the crews would
be available for manning some OF the
new 10000 ton cruisers as they are
completed and take their places with
the battle, fleet.
Remaining Craft Classified.
With these ships retired, the United
States would have left only l2-inch
and 3 equipped with 16-inch rifles, the
largest naval weapon in the world today
After Great Britain retired its five
ships. It's battle feet would comprise
Is craft mounting l5-inch rif1es and
two. the great Rodney and Nelson.
carrying l6-inch guns each. In the
IS would be several battle cruisers,
ships OF high speed. but light armor
protection.
None of the British ships reaches the
20 years age limit until 1884. Then
Ave would be in that class, the battle
cruiser Tiger and the battleships Ben
bow, Iron Duke, Marlborough and EN-
press of india. The Tiger probably
would be selected for decommissioning,
as she carries 13.5-inch guns and her
retirement along with the four battle
ships named would leave the smallest
main gun in the British navy l5-inch
rife.