The Washington times., 1937-07-16

JdSh VI uu11uluS anu AoAA CoAhAA
bined navies of Germany, Italy
if surprising conclusion which
examination of Britain's naval
A line of 277 warships extend
ing for 40 miles in close forma-
ton Indian file, each ship within
hailing distance of the next, will
be able to parade the seas under
the white ensign of the British
navy when the present building
program is completed, and that is
only the beginning. The British
have told us the beginning, but
not the end.
We insisted upon parity with
the British navy. Britain has no
objection to that; on the contrary
has announced through her most
important official and unofficial
spokesman that she welcomes it.
But to know what parity with the
British means we have to know
towards what ultimate goal the
British are striving.
Entire World Curious
We are not alone in our curl
osity. Naval and government cir
cles all over the world would like
an answer to the vital question,
How big is the British navy to
be?"
So far no official answer has
been vouchsafed to this question.
Always before, in British naval
history, the admiralty clearly de-
fined its policy. Before the entente
with France in 1904 it was two
power standard, the British navy
to be as strong as the French and
Russian together. From then until
the Great War it was a two to
one standard against Germany.
From the end Of the war until
last year it was parity with the
United States, meaning comfort
able superiority over any othei
power.
Now with the rearmament of
Germany, the growth of Anglo
Italian rivalry and the rise OF
japanese imperialism coupled
with the abrogation of the Anglo
japanese treaty and the signature
of the German-Japanese treaty,
the British apparently have
adopted the most ambitious
standard in their naval history.
For the figures Of her unprec-
edented naval program show that
She Is actually building today and
spending as much as Germany.
italy and Japan together.
The present British fleet Is al
most exactly as large as the COM
oined fleets of these three. They
have afloat today a total Of J.
144,00O tons divided among Ger:
many, 100000; italy, $1,000, and
Japan. 100000. Britain alone has
100000.
Germany is building 216,OO
tons, Italy, $4,000 and Japan
250.OOO, making total of $4,000
Britain alone is building 562,
900 tons. When present building
is added to present fleets Germany
will have $4,000 tons, Italy. 49,
600 and Japan, 954,000 making a
total of 1882 900. Against this the
British will have 1880, 900 tons OF
a bare 10 per cent less than the
combined fleets of her only poten,
tial adversaries.
Finally, Britain is spending this
year $525, 100000 on her navy
which is a trifle more than Ger.
many's $50, O00, 900 plus Italy's
$50, 100000 plus Japan's $21O,'
OOO. 1000 or combined $780,
100000.
Pay Through Nose
Britain means to make her
rivals pay through the nose. She
means to make the ornaments
race so costly that the others will
have to give in or go broke. This
is q double-edged policy and Brit.
ain will have to pay also until it
hurts, but there is no question
who had the longer purse. It is
probable that the combined re-
sources of the British Empire are
greater in the long run economic
race than those Of Germany, Italy
and Japan together.
It is hard for us Americans, at
home happily so far distant, to
realize the sen1o of urgency here
We may not, certainly will not
like the prospect of such eXpendi
lures, even when so sincerely in
voted by Winston Churchill to
lay keel for keel in the friendly
confidence that Britain and the
United States have essentially thu
same interest in preserving peace
But the British do not like !
either. They have only under