Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09
DELAYED REPLACEMENTS
HELD MENACE TO PARITY
Talk of Suspending Treaty's Scrapping
Schedule Recalls Continued Inferi-
Ority of U. S. in Naval Tonnage.
lille Great Britain's increases 10

In 1870 we Suner announcer relative set
back. We scrap the Tennessee, of 32,300
tons; Great Britain scraps the battle
cruiser Renown, of 26.500 tons. Adding
in each case a new standard battleship
of $4,000 tons. the American total
mounts to 515,100, but the British total
mounts to 521, $50.
SThe year 1871, under the treaty sees
the end Of the pre-Washington treaty,
battle tonnage. The United States dis
cards the California and the Maryland,
the first of $4,000 tons and the second
of $4,000. The British Navy loses the
battleship Families, of 25, $50 tons. and
the gigantic battle cruiser Hood, of Al
200 tons-the largest warship afloat.
Adding for each navy two standard
battleShips, the American total reaches
$40, 200 tons and the British total
reaches 525, 900.
$4,000 for Each in 1912.
The British battle feet is now at the
permanent treaty maximum. It will
not be affected by the final replace
ments of 1912, since the Nelson and the
Rodney. the two standard battleships
built by special arrangement in 1927
are exchanged for two other standard
units. We shall scrap the West Vir-
ginia and the Colorado, completed In
1928, which are slightly below standard,
changes, to treaty tonnage parity
$4,000.
It must be taken into consideration
that the treaty schedules do not use
Che same yardStick in msasuring the
tonnage of American and British bat
IL: units. The treaty allows this double
and conflicting method Of valuation.
1t says in the paragraphs which define
standard displacements that vessels
I91
ent ratings of displacement tonnage In
accordance with their national system
of measurement"
The American standard Of displace-
ment--the standard to be applied to all
ships built under the provisions of the
Washington treaty-is 1.-The displace-
ment of the ship complete, fully manned,
engined and equipped ready for sea, in
Guiding all armament and ammunition,
equipment. outfit, provisions and fresh
water for crew, miscellaneous stores and
implements of every description that are
intended to be carried in war, but with
out fuel or reserve fresh water on
board"
British Use Legend" Ton.
The standard tonnage of battle unit
is its tonnage when so loaded. The
British, however, employed what they
called the legend" ton as a measure
and the treaty displacement of their
holdover battle units is a displacement
without full loading. 1t Is manifest
that a ship will be charged with less
tonnage under the legend system of
measurement than 1t will under the
standard system. With warships Of more
than 10000 tons this differentiation Is
sometimes as high as 5000 tons.
The real tonnage of the British bat
tleships and battle cruisers Is Therefore
considerably in excess of the legend"
tonnage which figures in the treaty
tables. The complete summary of the
tonnage in all categories Of the navies
OF the f1ve Washington treaty sigma
tory powers, just published by the Navy
League Of the United States, diScloses
for the first time the additional Brit
1sh tonnage in the battle units due to
this diSparate system of measurement.
According to the treaty, the British
total battleship and battle cruiser ton
mage. prior to the 1934-1942 replace
mentS. is to be figured at 525,850, but |
the actual British total, translated into |
standard tons. is 606, 4O5 tons, while the |
present American total is only 523, 400. |
The apparent treaty excess on the Brit |
ish side of 33,100 tons is converted into !
an actual standard basis excess of |
$1,000.
Measurements Vary Widely.
1t Is interesting to note the differ
ence between the legend" and stand
ard tonnages of the British ships. The
Royal Sovereign, the Royal Oak, the
Revenge, the Resolution and the Ramil-
lies, all classed in the treaty as of u.s.
$50 tons, show 29,150 tons apiece by
standard measurement This is a gain
for each of 3,400 tons. The Malaya.
the Queen Elizabeth and the warspite,
credited with 27,500 tons in the treaty
tables, are carried at LOO in the cor
rected measurement.
The Valiant and the Barham, which
are undergoing bullying, will also rise
from 27,500 tons apiece to 31,10O when
the bullying Is completed. In this class
the gain vessel is $500. The Benbow,
the Iron Duke, the Emperor of India
and the Marlborough, rated in the
treaty at $4,000 tons apiece, weigh on
the standard basis 2625O, a gain for
each Of only 1850.
The huge cruiser Hood is hardly af-
fected by the shift in measurement. She
goes to 42,l00 tons, a gain of only 900
tons The Tigers tonnage rises only
400 tons, from 28,500 to 28,900. On the
other hand, the battle cruisers Renown
and Repulse jump from 26,50O In the
treaty tables to $4,000 in the revised and
standardized schedule. They gain $500
ton apiece.
Real Disparity Not Expressed.
The real disparity in battle strength
between the American and British
navies was not expressed in the figures
IN the treaty. At Washington in 1921
y the United States exchanged pro-
Spectlve supremacy on the sea for an
agreement on parity with Great Britain
AN agreement which did not even es-
tablish immediate parity, but merely
promised 1t in the future. Actual parity
was to be brought about by a process
OF equalization through replacements
lasting until 1912. Scrapping, followed
by replacement, is the key to capital
ship equality, so far as we are con-
cerned.
The much larger actual DISPARITY IN
battle tonnage now disclosed can be
overcome by requirements as effectuailv
as the smaller disparity indicated in the
treaty. For example, If the replace
ments OF 1884 and 1885 are made thew
VIII involve under the new TONNAGE
measurements net British loss Of 81, 100
In the first year and of 42,20O in the
second total Of 1890. The present
British advantage is $1,000.
Danger Seen In POstponement.
There is talk of postponing replace
ments at London and lengtheninp fhe
llVeS OF battle units which are to be-
come obsolete in 1884 and 1885. I'm
conditional postponement Of the appli-
catlon OF the treaty's scrapping sched-
qies Is opposed in this country's interest
u would delay for five or six years the
attainment Of the main purpose of the
naval armament Limitation of 1899 n.
WouIu connrm for an unnecessary extra
period the marked superiority in hattie
units which Grant priAai.. o-