EMPIRE AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1925, Page 3

EMPIRE AFFAIRS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. OAUI.iC ASSOCIATION RUMOURED SEPARATION. OTTAWA, January ft. “ It is impossible to talk great nonsense,” declared the Premier (Mr MaeKcnzic King) when referring to a statement in the London -Morning Post ” that separation of Canada from the Empire is being discussed in Canada. NAVAL ARMAMENTS. COMPARISON WITH BRITAIN. WASHINGTON, January 3. Before the Navy Committee Naval Secretary Wilbur said that he believed the American Navy equal to Great Britain’s in tonnage, hut the American capital ships were about two knots slower than Britain’s and the American guns were outranged hv Britain’s by about fifteen hundred yards. Representative Britten asked what was the basis of the Naval Department’s belief that the United States capital ships were equal to Britain’s if they were outranged and were less speedy. Secretory Wilbur replied that the 5-5-4 ratio applied to tonnage. So many factors entered into the lighting ability of fleets that it was impossible to determine the relative strength of the fleets before they go into action, lie declined to say whether the American Navy, all the I actors considered, equalled Britain’s, but confidential reports were available to the Committee. The l nited States, had purposely made its ships slower, bclic\ing that it was advisable to put weight in the armour and the guns.