THE BRITISH NAVY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 37, 14 February 1933, Page 7

THE BRITISH NAVY

DANGEROUS WEAKNESS

TIME TO BUILD UP AGAIN

NEEDS FOR SECURITY

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, February 13. "Very substantial additions to* the British Navy are necessary unless a concrete and universal scheme of fleet disarmament is carried at Geneva," says tho "Daily Telegraph's" naval correspondent. "It is unlikely that Britain, in 1936 will renew the naval treaties in their existing form, as their effect has been to reduce Britain's defences below the safety line while promoting a large expansion of foreign fleets. Britain is now weaker on the sea than she has been for 150 years. She wil] have fewer modern cruisers than the United States or Japan. The British personnel is 27,000 fewer than the American. France and Italy particularly are building warships on an unprecedented scale, and have added 80 new vessels to their fleets in three years. Well-informed naval circles' regard the following as essential to British naval security:— , The replacement of obsolete battleships by vessels of 25,000 tons of moderate, speed, heavy armour, and with eigit 13J-irieh guns. , An increase of 25 per- cent, in our cruisers, with guns heavier than 6 inches, if foreign Powers exceed this calibre. The construction of twelve to sixteen destroyers annually for several years. ~ I Lastly, an increase in the personnel of the fleet by at least 10,000.