AMERICAN NAVY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18232, 17 November 1924, Page 9

AMERICAN NAVY.

0 FULFILLING THE TREATY. TAXPAYER'S PROTEST. (bx cable— Ti'.ZßS ASSOCIATION— copieight) (ACSTItALIAX ASD S.Z. CABLE association) (Received November 16th, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 14. Mr "Wilbur lias filed an answer to the suit lorouglit by Mr "William Shearer, onco a special expert employed by tha Navy Department, to restrain the Department from sinking the now superDreadnought Washington, on the ground thai, the United States had excessively reduced naval armament. Mr "Wilbur says the- British Empire was permitted a larger capital ship tonnage than the United States. The Treaty allowed tha latter 527,000 tons and tho British Empire ova- 640,000 tons, tho British tonnage to bo reducible to •503,950, but not to tho United States level. Mr Wilbur sjiid the scrapping programme was not completed. Tho Washington was only 70 per rent, completed when work was stopped, at a cost of fifteen and a quarter million dollars, which latter sum was reducible by tho sale of material. Mr Wilbur refused to answer some of Mr Shearer's questions, which he characterised us impertinent, and immaterial, and asked for the dismissal of the suit. The Judge, in dismissing Mr Shearer's suit, ruled that Mr Shearar had no legal right as a taxpayer to bring the suit, and the Court had no jurisdiction to prevent a, Cabinet official from using his discretion under the law. Tho Navy Department continues to plan to sink tho Washington by bombs and guns. Mr Shearer is appealing against the deeision.