NAVAL STRENGTH

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18228, 12 November 1924, Page 9

NAVAL STRENGTH

EXCESSIVE REDUCTION.

AN AMERICAN'S COMPLAINT. UvtmiLux AJTO s.i. ciaut Assocmtox.) VA.CSTIUIJAS AND XJS. CUU iSSQCWROK.) (Received November llthj 10.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 10. Mr William Shearer, once a special expert employed by the NaTy Department, whoso charges that the United States had excessively reduced naval armament were confirmed by Mr Roosevelt and Mr Wilbur, has obtained a temporary injunction, arguable on Friday, restraining Mr Wilbur from sinking the new super-dreadnought Washington in accordance with the Naval Limitation Treaty. Mr Shearer alleges that tho destruction of the battleship will cause a loss of thirty million dollars to tho taxpayers. As tho Arms Conference treaties have not been ratified by all the signatories, he argues that these treaties are inoperative unless they are completely and universally ratified.

Mr Shearer suggests that; the Washington should be converted into an airplane carrier until Congress clarifies the treaty obligations. He says the treaties permit Great Britain and the United States a maximum capital ship tonnage of 528,000 tons each, but Great Britain continues to maintain 711,000 tons, and has failed to scrap four vessels which the treaties obliged her to destroy upon the completion of the two now ships Rodney and Nelson. Mr Shearer's charges have caused no concern to the Navy Department, which plans to sink tho Washington by detonating high- explosive bombs "within a designated radius, after which she will be used as a target for gunfire if still afloat.