Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-30
Cartoon by r. Strothmann.

Cartoon by r. Strothmann.
indeed, is put forward that Germany
must have a feet in the Baltic equal
to the Russian forces. Actually, the
program, in three years time, would
give Germany a feet stronger and
more modern than the whole exist
ing Russian fleet. Russia has only
three battleships, each built before
the Great War and therefore of OBJ
solescent design. In three years Ger
many will have the three new
Deutschlands, built under the treaty
limitation on the 10,O00-ton limit, but
with Diesel engines and of very in
genious construction, giving them a
battery more powerful than any Rus
sian battleship now af1oat: and, in
addition. the two 20.000-ton ships to
be built Immediately will give her a
great preponderance Germany al
ready has eight cruisers built against
the Russian six, and the German
cruisers are more modern and pow
erful.
In order to give color to this con-
tention, in the semi-private conver-
sations in Berlin with the British
ministers, the German leaders asked
for an understanding that Britain
would not allow the Russian war
ships in the Black Sea to pass out
through the Straits of Gibraltar.
Therefore the German preponderance
over the fragment of the Russian feet
in the Baltic would be overwhelming
Equality With France Rumored.
Actually, the intention appears to
be to construct a navy for Germany
equal in strength to that of France.
Hints that this is the real program
have already been given and unof-
ficially discussed. Whether France
will respond to the challenge and a
naval shipbuilding race will result
this remains to be seen.
Whatever the real object Of this
new naval feet. which a resurgent
Germany is about to construct, it will
give her bargaining power on both
sides of the Atlantic.
In well informed European circles 1t
is being repeatedly stated that there
Is private understanding between
Germany and Japan. Each is to be
prepared to come to the assistance Of
the other in case of war The German
unofficial explanation is that this
refers to Russia only. The under
standing, il it exists, might have very
important implications.
Under the Washington treaty of
1921. as reafirmed in London in 1880
but now denounced by the Japanese
government, the ratio of fleets between
the three principal naval powers was
to be 5-5-3. In practice, this has
provided IS capital ships for the
American Navy, Is for the British
navy and nine for the Japanese navy.
The Japanese, in their home waters,
on this ratio were in strong enough
position to resist possible aggression
either from Britain or from America
If, on the other hand. the japanese
f1outed the peace Of the world and
the law of nations and ranged both
the United States and Britain against
them, the combined Anglo-American
fleets would be strong enough to deal
with the situation, especially when
the Singapore naval base is completed
and certain preparations have been
made in the outlying American pos
sessions in the Pacific.
But If Germany is once more to
reappear as strong naval power, even
il she remained neutral in such an
eventuahty, considerable proportion
of the British fleet would have to be
concentrated in European waters
This would be not so much because
of the strength of the German surface
fleet as because of the menace of the
submarines which that country will
soon possess.
Subs Could Menace America.
Similarly, in the event of a future
conflict between the United States
and Japan alone, until the attitude OF
Germany was defined it would proba-
bly, be considered inadvisable to con-
centrate the whole Of the American
naval forces in the Pacific. Modern
submarines operating from German
north seaportS could menace Ameri-
can shipping in the North Atlantic;
while if Germany were given back her
colonies in West Africa. American
shipping in the South Atlantic and
Gulf of Mexico could likewise be
menaced by submarines and cruisers
operating from the Cameroons. To
meet such a threat sufficient United
States naval forces would have to re-
main in the Atlantic to guard con-
voys of merchant ships and to hunt
down ocean raiders.
Thus it will be seen that the whole
present basis of naval strength has
been undermined. Already there IS a
demand in Britain, in certain infiuen-
tial circles, for a great expansion OF
the British feet as soon as the present
limiting treaty expires. Thus, Ad-
miral of the Fleet Sir Roger Reyes,
who is also q Conservative member OF
Parliament, has come out with the
strongly expressed demand that
Britain should raise q special loan Tor
naval construction.
Admiral Viscount Jellicoe, former
first sea lord and peer Of the realm,
is demanding that the agreed cruiser
feet of Britain Of so vessels for the
defense of trade and service with the
battle feet, shall be increased to 70.
The official admiralty policy of the
present board at Whitehall Is under
stood to be the replacement OF II OF
the present Is large capital ships fly
ing the British flag with new vessels
of great size by means of . building
program spread over four and . hall
years.
II Germany actually proceeds to the
CONTINUED On Tenth Pase.)
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