THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 19, 1937.
JAPANESE
NAVAL
Page
BOMBSHELL
Gun-Calibre Attitude May Disturb Equilibrium
Lead To New Race
In Ship Types And Sizes
London, To-day.
Replying in the House of Commons during the debate on the Naval Estimates, in which reference was made to rumours that Japan might adopt 16- inch guns, Sir Samuel Hoare, the First Lord of the Admiralty, said that he had no official information on the subject.
IT WOULD BE A MATTER OF THE GREATEST REGRET, HOWEVER, IF ONE OF THE NAVAL POWERS STARTED BIG- GER GUNS THAN 14-INCH OR SHIPS LARGER THAN 35,000 TONS.
for
Here are the forward turret: guns) of "HAMISHood naval ship afloat, 42.100 tons. These guns are only 15 inch. and the Rodney type are equipped with 16-inch guns.
son
-armour protection and may NO NEW TARIFFS IN AS FAR AS BRITAIN WAS CONCERNED, WE INTEND TO chinery. A battleship of this size guns must STICK TO 14-INCH GUNS FOR THE 35-000-TON BATTLESHIP mounting" nine 16in. IF ALL THE OTHER NAVAL POWERS DID THE SAME AND either sacrifice adequate protection THERE WAS A VERY WIDE MEASURE OF AGREEMENT BE- or be restricted to a speed of at
most 25 knots. TWEEN CERTAIN OF THE NAVAL POWERS.
This marked difference in weight
NIGERIA Statement In House Of Commons
London, To-day.
He was
sure this would be of signature of the agreement, is due less to the guns than their
In reply to a Commons question, much better for the world as a have been adjourned for the time mountings, which become dispro whole and did not think any navy being because the head of the Bri-portionately heavier as calibre in- the Colonial Secretary said that no would lose in any way in effi-tish delegation, Sir Robert Craigie, ceases. The total weight of nine 16-substantial tariff changes were con ciency.
has had to make a private trip to in guns on triple mounting is over templated in the Nigerian estimates He hoped they would not change the United States. -
7,000 tons, while that of nine 14m the designs for capital ships in the
on similar mountings would be [about 4,300 tons.
future.
If other countries broke the agreement they would have to con- sider a new situation.
He added that he still hoped it would be possible to implement the agreement reached in London last year.
Great Calamity
It would be a great calamity to the world if such agreements were not implemented by the great naval Powers and we again saw the start of a competition amongst new types and sizes. Reuter.
From an authoritative technical quarter: comes an explanation of the significance of the new situa- tion created by Japan's decision
It is explained that Japan's de
cision lies in the fact that five new battleships already ordered for the British Navy have dimensions of 35,000 tons and 14-inch guns.
America's Position
The Anglo-Soviet naval talks are also being held up-Trans-Ocean.
Calibre Depends On Japan
for the coming financial year. Nor was it proposed to make any change in the system of textile quotas re- cently introduced.
Having regard to the importance on general grounds of avoiding The Director of Ambulance acknow- fresh interference in the flow of "Govern- ledges with grateful appreciation and international trade, the
of the following ment did not think it desirable that In spite of an official statement thanks the receipt that the new
British battleships donations: Mr. Eu Tong Sen $200; the system of imperial preference
Vacuum Standard Oil Co. $50; Anony- (will mount 14în guns, it is far from mons (in memory of Mr. In Ku Un) Should be introduced into Nigeri
certain that this will be the arma- | $10.:: ment of all the five vessels now building or projected, says Hector Bywater in the "Daily Telegraph.”
The first two, the King George V. and the Prince of Wales, were designed to carry 14in guns, and could not be altered to mount heavier weapons without involving great delay. Moreover, the 14in guns and mountings for these ships. are already under production.
But the armament of the three
vessels included in the new pro-
gramme may consist of heavier guns.
The limit of 14in calibre im- posed by last year's Naval Treaty becomes operative only if it is ac cepted by all the Powers.
If by April 1, Japan has failed to The United States, however,
give an affirmative answer, the made its acceptance of the limita
American Navy, it is officially an- tions imposed by the Loudon Na-nounced, will at once order 16in val Agreement depend on their arguns for its projected battleships. ceptance by all the naval Powers
In that event the British Nary
If Japan actually abides by its might be compelled to follow suit. decision, then the United States would most probably assert its right to equip its new battleships with 16-inch guns.
This, however, would end in re quiring battleships to much larger since 16-inch would mean a much greater displacement-Trans-Ocean,
Sir Robert Craigie Leaving For US.
Ton
SACRIFICE OF SPEED
Most naval officers would prefer to keep to the 14mm limit. The new gun of this calibre is, they con- sider
of sufficient weight - and
Its
ectile of 1560lb will per- forate practically any thickness of at ordinary fighting ranges, gun itself weighs 23 tons the 16in piece of 103 tons. new battleships are res- 35,000 tons, the weight of
a factor of prime im
heavier the atta
ill be left
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