Evening star., 1934-02-13

the military standpoint, obsolete; and
Of the remaining 708.550 tons q con-
siderable part Is nearing the age limit.
In the case Of the ships In the
category known as destroyers. our
Navy roster shows we have 251 Of
them, but OF these, 24s are over age
and only II are in commission. II
we were TO build UP to treaty
strength In this category we should
now be building 81 destroyers. In
stead, we are building 80.
When 1t comes to the British navy,
the total present tonnage is 1,174,349.
That is more than 100, 900 tons in ex-
cess OF our total But more than that
Is the fact that in the case Of Great
Britain only 199,650 tons is over-age,
and Great Britain now has under
construction 185,230 tons of replace
ments and 38,905 projected.
Japan, under the washington and
London treaties, was allowed q max
imum tonnage Of 763,050. The ton
mage Of its navy today Is 58,26l-vir-
tually at full treaty strength; and OF
this tonnage, 656,12 is represented by
ships under the age limit. Japan has
under construction 43,30a tons Of ships
and her naval program calls for TO-
824 tons more. Let us turn for mo-
ment to the question Of the number Of
combat ships In full commission or
fully manned. The United States
total is 148, Of which 81 are under age
and 81 over age The British Empire
total Is 1856, Of which 104 are under
age and 81 over age. The total for
Japan is 204, Of which 100 are under
age and A over age.
No Reference to Size.
These figures are simply q numeri-
cal count of the ships, without any
reference to their size. Japan's total
exceeds that Of either England or the
United States by reason of the fact
that Japan has In commission 81 SUBJ
marines as compared with 40 sub
marines for the United States and A
for Great Britain. Japan has in COM
mission SO destroyers; the United
States, II; England, "a. Japan has
in commission "A ships categoried as
destroyer leaders; England 10; and the
United States, none.
Another factor to be considered In
connection with relative naval strength
is that the United States Navy is 75%
manned; Great Britain, 90% manned;
and Japan 1907 manned. Summing
up what I have said concerning COM
parative naval strength under the
London treaty, which expires In 1886
the statistical conclusion reached Il
as follows:
The United States Is entitled tc
build 102 ships, which includes both
| new ships and replacements; Great
Britain is entitled to build 81 ships;
Japan Is entitled to build no ships.
That Great Britain Is actually build
ing, or intends to build before 1896
up to the naval strength allotted by
the treaty, quote from the statement
Of the first lord Of the British ad-
miralty: I'VE can not have any more
one-Sided disarmament. We can moi
always be idealists; we must fact real
tiles, and remember that it is moi
peace time navy estimates that cost
money; it Is wars. And wars are not
made by strong British navy; they
are prevented by It,"
And again In Parliament, March I
1882: I'VE must have the ships which
we are allowed to have by 1885 by oul
treaties, and there Is no doubt tina,
we shall have them" Now that We
know specifically Great Britain's nava
strength and attitude toward her full.
| finment OF the maximum nava.
strength she IL entitled TO under thl
London treaty, and furthermore, that
we know that Japan actually possesse.
the maximum treaty strength. let u.
inquire what our government ha!
been doing, or intends 10 do, consid.
ertng her conceded tnferiortty, with
respect TO o building program con.
sonant with her rights under ths
| treaty.
We have already seen that follow.
ing the Washington treaty we dis.
possessed and divested ourselves Of ar
unquestioned superiority on the sea-
that followed our naval expansion
during the World War, the omis.
sion in that treaty OF any check upor
the rights Of the powers TO continue
naval building In submarines, cruisers
destroyers, and powerful auxiliarie.
was followed by naval expansion d
tremendous proportions upon the par
OF powers other than ourselves, IN al
categories except capital ships.
Let us examine the record to learr
just how. following the Washington
Conference, the statesmen Of the
world proceeded 10 give effect TO ths
hopes Of the people Of every natior
for actual naval reduction.
Only Nation 10 Interpret Spirit.
Following that conference and N
to January /, 1929, the great power.
Of the world laid down and appro
priated for naval expansion In tn
categories outside the treaty a. fol