NAVAL POLICY?

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1921, Page 5

NAVAL POLICY?

EIQ SHIP QUESTION. BRITAIN’S BURDEN DISCUSSED. GUARDING THE PACIFIC. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Jan. 21. The Mirror publishes remarkable references to the naval policy as follows: —“The Government intends to submit a big battleships programme to the June conference, but from the British viewpoint the burial of German sea power fundamentally altered strategy. Australia believes the Pacific will be the next, storm centre, hence she is particularly concerned about what to us are far-off waters. If Australia wants big ships she may be prepared to pay. Britain could hardly be expected to shoulder the burden of paying for gigantic floating fortresses, generally believed to be useless, simply because Australia wants them.” From statements given by leading politicians and naval experts the foregoing is not the view of the present authorities, though rhe question of contributions will certainly be raised in June.—Reuter. DISARMAMENT PLANS. CONFERENCE PROPOSED. Received Jan. 23, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Jan. 22. Senator Root, who is prominently mentioned as a likely member of Mr. Harding’s Cabinet, has sent a letter to the Naval Committee of the House of Representatives urging that Mr. Harding should call a disarmament confer-ence.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRENCH PROGRAMME. ONE SQUADRON LESS. Paris, June 21. The suppression of the Eastern Mediterranean squadron is the outstanding feature of the 1921 naval armaments scheme. The Mediterranean squadron will be comprised of four battleships, three battle-cruisers, two squadrons of six torpedo-boats to each squadron, eight ex-German torpedo boats, with a reserve division of three battleships and battlecruisers and four torpedo-boats. The Atlantic division will comprise two cruisers; the West African division a cruiser and two sloops; and the Far East division will remain stationed in the Pacific and Indian. Oceans.—Reuter.