Evening star., 1938-02-16
NAVY RACE
WITH JAPAN LOOMS
81, 500, 900, 900 Arms Pro.
gram Enters Second Year
Amid Contest.
BACKGROUND

United States, France and Great
Britain February addressed
queries to japanese government
about latter's intention to build
parships OF more than 81, 1000 tons.
Toxic in reply refused to provide
the requested information. Con-
sultation OF United States, Britain
and France on use OF escdldtor
clause in London nauul treaty OF
1886 is expected.
BY the Associated Press.
LONDON. Feb. ia virtually Ger.
tain naval race with Japan WAS fore
shadowed as Britain's $500 600, ,OOC
flve-year rearmament program entered
its second year today.
Britain has two battleships building
and her rearmament program calls fol
the keels of three more to be laid this
year-provided for in plans already
made
Increasing fear for British security
in the Far East, however, led admiralty
experts to revise appropriations and it
is understood the revision was in favor
of more and bigger battleships.
Japans refusal to discuss reports
she Is building battleships of more
than $4,000 tons, In excess of London
naval treaty limits imposed on Britain,
France and the United States, was q
factor in this.
50 Warships Planned.
The known naval plans call for so
new warships in 1889 Is against 81
in 1878. They include an aircraft
carrier and four cruisers.
The nation spent 81 l,348, SOS, 900 in
the 1878 fiscal year, under the five-
year rearmament program. The in
dicated 1889 expenditures are likely
to be around s1.75o 00o, ,0oo-for air,
land and sea defense.
A loan of $500. 900 900 was fioated
last year to finance . portion of this
expenditure. and a similar loan is in
prospect for 1859.
Britain's concern over her Far
Eastern defenses was reflected in
maneuvers staged February as at
Singapore. Twenty-seven warships.
100 planes and 10000 troops Joined
in the maneuvers. which were fol-
lowed Monday by the opening of
Singapore's great naval dock.
Ireland's Aid Sought.
British anxiety over home security
was evidenced by the move to obtain
defense cooperation from Ireland
through the talks started January IT
by Prime Ministers Eamon de Valera
and Neville Chamberlain.
The 1888 defense plans are:
Navy: Sixty new warships for 1898
will consist of l aircraft carrier, 4
cruisers, 80 destroyers, Z submarines
and 1s minesweepers and other craft.
The 1887 additions included 6 cruis-
ers, 9 destroyers, 3 submarines and
IA minesweepers and small craft
Air force: A further boosting of
the Royal Air Forces first line air
plane strength. pushed from $50 to
1872 aircraft in two years, was PROM
ised for 1898.
First line airplanes in the feet air
arm, Britain's naval air force, make
the present total 2,03l machines
against Germany's estimated total of
more than 1000. More first line
bombers, now numbering $40. are to
be built. The naval air force will
develop under recently inaugurAted
navy control.
Machine Guns for Rifles.
Army: War Minister Leslie Hore-
Belisna was credited with plans for
replacement Of rifles by machine guns
in infantry battalions, construction
Of more high-speed tanks, mechanisa-
ton Of artillery battalions and in
tensive production Of anti-tank guns.
A drastic shake-up in the army
high command promised faster pro-
motion among officers as part of the
drive for efficiency regardless Of age
and feniority.