DESTRUCTION OF GERMAN WARSHIPS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1919, Page 5

DESTRUCTION OF GERMAN WARSHIPS

/Uceired Feb. 21, 7.10 p.m. Pari?, Feb. 19. The main clauses of the Allies' terms, ivhich reached the Anal stage for incluiton in the peace preliminaries, will be found to be of dramatic interest. They not only drastically destroy the last remnants of German naval power, but also )how how the respective navies fare unler the League of Nations. Germany will be compelled to hand ever immediately sight mure battleships, including the Oldenburg, Heligoland and others in their classes; eight cruisers of the Straasburg class, forty-two modem destroyers, and fifty torpedo boats, as well as all the remaining submarines. All torts of warship construction mu9t b« stopped, and vessels under construction or repair will be broken up under British supervision. All the above ships are to be destroyed within three months, and the submarines within fifteen days. The intention seems to be to burn into the German mind that theirs guns have tailed them. The auxiliary cruisers are to be dismantled of warlike material. Which will b« destroyed, and the ships will then, as ordinary merchantmen, be included in the list of prizes which are to be considered in the payment of reparation. Material commercially useful will be saved, but anything that cannot be Utilised will be sunk or exploded. Thus ends Germany's naval ambitions. She is reduced to a few warships, about enough to pollee her dwindling coast line, and there is where the Powers forming the initial League of Nations mean to keep heir. The scale of construction permitted her will be a narrow one. How the other navies will stand under the League covenant is indefinite, but it obviously forecasts a reduction. The Allies would have divided the German fleet amongst themselves, instead of destroying it, bad this imperative demand for saving money on armament not been recognised. The decision to destroy the German fleet ha 9 still to be finally ratified, but though it is certain this course will be followed, obviously the British, American, Japanese and French navies will remain the only great fleets, and some nebulous understanding already exists consuming their respective strength. BRITISH PREDOMINANCE CONTINUES. There need be no trepidation that the British policy will surrender her predominance. Every British delegate recognises that it is vital to sustain British naval power, in spite of the League of Nations. Britain will probably be found willing, even eager, to reduce her navy to pre-war strength. In other words, the Accretions will probably be given up. This tnav be takeft as practically decided. CRSATION OP DOMINIONS* NAVIES. The question being considered is: What .will be done with those fine ships which are no longer desired by the Admiralty ? The answer to this important and intereating question is in the Dominions. British policy desires—and the League would most certainly approve—that these vestal* be handed over to the Dominions for Dominion navies. New Zealand and South Aft** would institute local navies, as *U the old distrust of separate Dominion Wvies seems to have disappeared. COBT OP DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE. The general question of redistribution of the cost of the general defence of the Empire will be brought up at the Imperial Conference in London immediately After the Peace Congress. This thorny subject, which is full of difficulties, might largely be settled before-hartd if the Dotninions aeeept the responsibility of. the •* aflat of maintaining local navies. It is * believed that New Zealand and South Africa have already been sounded. Indeed, a New Zealand navy seems a likely eventuality.

AUXILIARY CRUISERS AS PRIZES A NEW ZEALAND NAVY LIKELY