STRENGTH OF THE NAVY.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20257, 28 July 1937, Page 7

STRENGTH OF THE NAVY.

EQUAL TO OTHER POWERS. LIMITATION HOPED FOR. SITUATION BEING WATCHED. (Official Wireless.) (Received July 28, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, July 27. During the debate on the second reading of the London Naval Treaty Bill In the House of Lords Earl Stanhope, for the Government, referred to the decision of Japan not to be limited tp 14-inch guns. He said that the British Admiralty would watch the situation very carefully, and if it was found that Japan or any other nation was building ships above 35,000 tons or with bigger guns than proposed in the treaty notice could be given that in view of such action the escalator clause could be invoked. Whether that would mean a bigger ship or faster ship or a heavier-gunned ship than the Japanese was a question which experts would have to go into when they had the information.

“There Is not the smallest Intention that we should send out men to sea In ships Inferior to those they may meet of any other Power,” Earl Stanhope said.

He added that he hoped Japan would realise it was to her advantage, no less than to that of other countries, to agree to the limitation.

was mounted overlooking the Straits. Two in fact had been removed and the remainder are few in number. Neither in numbers nor size do these guns threaten Gibraltar, nor are they sighted for that purpose. “In all cases both the larger calibre and secondary guns are outpowered by Gibraltar artillery. In the circumstances of tlie Spanish civil war the presence of these guns is quite intelligible.’’ The Minister said Ceuta had always been heavily armed. He did not think it could be said that the guns there were a threat to Gibraltar or its shipping.