NAVAL DETAILS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1921, Page 3

NAVAL DETAILS

A M Ell IC A AN D KN G LAND

THE TIMES ” SERVICE

(Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 19

The “Times” naval correspondent supplies an important analysis of the effect on the American shipbuilding of Congress’s amendment limiting the expenditure to warships under construction. Ho disputes the present idea that this applies to capital ships,of 1916 programme and says the keels of all six battleships are in position thus assuring an American preponderance in ships of the latest and most powerful type. Indeed,' unless Britain undertakes immediate big ship construction, America’s 1916 programme will give her incomparably tlio biggest navy in the world. ’Hie first four battleships are already far advanced and according to reliable information here, work on the remaining six battleships and sixbattlecruisors is in full swing and all will be completed by 1924. Then America will have twelve post-Jutland capital ships whilst the only comparable vessel in Britain’s navy will bo the Hood. Reductions in America’s naval personnel leaves tlio following figures —America 131,751, Britain 131,160. The correspondent does not suggest there should be a decision regarding the naval policy until the June Conference, but significantly remarks that there is a vast difference between Jutland and post-Jutland ships. Indeed it is argued the difference is similar to that between Dreadnoughts and pre-dread-noughts. It is calculated that America will have 286 destroyers and Britain 193, but Britain will have 105 modern submarines and America ninety fom\