The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-02-05
MAY DOOM BIG
BATTLESHIPS
Experts See Limitation Of
Size as One Outcome
at Geneva
By STEWART BROWN
United Press Staff Correspondent

GENEVA, Feb. s. (UP). -
The monster type of battleship
is doomed according to Geneva
experts. =,
The 1885 naval conference, it
is believed, will reduce the maxi
mum tonnage of capital ships
from $4,000 tons to around 25,-
900 or $4,000 tons.
The United States government
is at present oppose dto reducing
battleship sizes but reports reach
ing Geneva indicate this policy
will be changed before the 1885
conference.
Great Britain, Japan, France
and Italy, in Geneva discussions,
have suggested the reduction of
the maximum tonnage of capital
ships. Alone the United States
objected. England wants a maxi
mum limit of $4,000 tons while
Japan seeks a $4,000 ton limit.
The smaller naval powers have
proposed 10000 tons as the maxi,
mum size of any warship to be
built in the future. This was the
limit put on Germany's nava
construction at Versailles.
A study of naval charts show:
that very few capital ships have
been built since the war and the
majority of these were launched
shortly before the Washington
naval conference was called tt
check such rivalries.
Great Britain has Is monster
type capital ships ranging from
the Hood with a displacement Of
42,100 tons. to the Royal Oal
class of 29,150 tons displacement
The Hood was launched in 1926
and the Nelson and Rodney IL
1927. Britain's total tonnage Of
capital ships (474,750) does no
count three battleships to b.
strapped under the London nava
treaty.
The United States likewise ha.
Is capital ships but its largest i!
the Pennsylvania with 33,10(
tons. Her smallest capital shil
is the Arkansas of 26,100 tons
The United States launched it.
last battleship, the Colorado, il
1923. Her total tonnage in thi!
class is 455,450.
! There is no provision for the
construction of a battleship il
the new building program of thu
United States. Previously the Uni
ted States has always insisted OF
large battleships because of it!
widely separated territories anC
the necessity of obtaining a large
cruising radius. Experts now say
that battleships of $4,000 ton!
meet all there requirements.
Japan has 10 battleships will
a total tonnage of 298,400 tons
Her largest displaees 32,700 ton
and her smallest 26,330. The Ma
: goto and Mutu. both $4,000 tons
are her latest acquisitions. Boil
were launched in 1921.
Japan is particularly interested
IN getting reduction in battle
ship tonnage because of fear O
the United States. Without long
.cruising heavy battleships tn
United States could not reacl
the Far East to protect the Phil
ippines in case of war. Japan i
also opposed to the aircraft car
rier of which her four nearl,
match the four of the Unite,
States in tonnage. England ha
six aircraft carriers with a tota
tonnage of 1880.
1t is not thought the 1885 cor
ference will propose to scrap a
existing battleships but rattle
recommend that no more be cor
structed in the. future. Thus the
will die of old age.
This is just as pleasing to Ital
and France as to England an
Japan. Italy has only four cap
tai ships and they are all unde
$4,000 tons.
France has the Dunkerque {
26,5OO tons and nine other uni
all under 22,500.