Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-17

after 1886 will maintain a fleet Of so
cruisers having total tonnage. Of
$4,000 tons.
Fifteen of these cruisers will be
large 8-inch gun cruisers, 35 will be
small 6-inch gun cruisers. The United
States, on the other hand, may maintain
fleet of 36 cruisers having a total
tonnage of 315, 900 tons. OF these, the
United States wishes to maintain 81
8-inch gun cruisers. The British gov
eminent desires, however, that the
United States should have only 18.
In other words, the only difference
left to be decided at London over the
Anglo-American cruiser question con-
Germs three large cruisers. Under the
above arrangement, the British en-
pire will have the right to maintain
larger cruiser tonnage than the
United States, but the United States
will have the right to maintain larger
number of 8-inch gun cruisers than
Great Britain. Both governments be-
lieve that the two cruiser fleets divided
along these lines will be substantially
equal in combat strength.
End Of Rivalry.
If the difference over these cruisers
is accepted at London and If the above
arrangement is embodied in a treaty
the possibility of naval rivalry between
the United States and Great Britain
will come to an end.
Such an arrangement will not mean
naval reduction however. On the con-
trary, 1t will oblige the United States
to construct from Is to 18 cruisers at
a cost ranging around $275, 1000, 600.
The reason for this failure to secure
actual reduction is the present disparity
in the size between the American and
British cruiser fleets.
When the World War broke OUT the
British empire maintained ia cruisers.
In 1921 this number had been reduced
to S. A replacement program was
Geneva Conference Of 1927 the British
government declared that it must main
tain 10 cruisers. The Macdonald gov
eminent has now agreed to reduce this
figure to so, but states that at present
1t can go no further, in view OF the
far-flung areas of the British empire
and Of the still troubled political con-
dition of the world as whole.
Before the passage of the act of Feb
ruary, 1929, the United States had,
built and building, only 18 modern
cruisers. The 1929 act authorized the
construction of Is more. While for a
time some Americans hoped that there
would be no need to construct these
cruisers, 1t is now apparent that the
United States must build these new
cruisers, and perhaps few more, II 1t
is to achieve actual parity with Great
Britain.
u. s. Forces Stronger.
II the London conference merely
ratifies the Anglo American cruiser
agreement, it will stop impending naval
rivalry, but 1t will not secure actual
reduction.
Nevertheless. the United States and
other governments hope that this latter
goal may be realized in other types of
craft, particularly in destroyers, sub
marines and battleships. At present
the United States Is considerably strong
er in destroyer tonnage than is the
British Empire, and 1t Is somewhat
stronger IN submarines.
The American and British govern
ments have already agreed to limit de-
stroyers upon a basis of tonnage equal
ity; and it may be assumed that both
governments will agree to reduce pres
ent destroyer tonnage levels materially.
Both the British and American govern
ments are moreover committed to the
abolition of the submarine, and ap-
parently they are also ready to reduce
the size Of battleships. The problems
created by the submarine and the bat
tleship will be discussed In the course
of the following articles.
(Copyright. lp30)