London, Jan. 2.
The Reich is maintaining its decision to construct more submarines and heavy cruisers until it reaches parity with Great Britain in these types of war vessels, it was revealed in well-informed political circles today. In reply to this uncompromising attitude adopted by Berlin, the saline quarters added, Britain is now envisaging the construction of a fleet of small 500 to 1,000-ton vessels and the rearming of old destroyers.
According to reliable reports, Germany's written Note maintaining her decision to build more naval units has not yet been received here, but, contrary to previous despatches, she is making no concessions and is only explaining and announcing measures already taken. view of such expected to prepare plans to build an important fleet of small ships which will be armed with four-inch guns, These small vessels will be capable of antisubmarine and anti-aircraft warfare. Moreover, the Admiralty will also study a scheme whereby British yards will turn out thirty vessels built specially to protect the Navy against submarines.
The little units will serve to protect the commercial life-lines of the Empire and will combat single submarines carrying out raids. The other vessels, of the destroyer type, will be from 1,500 to 2,000 tons and will serve as auxiliaries to "battle flotillas to fight against similar units among the enemy and also to ward off "sub" attacks. Besides this, the Admiralty is understood to be examining projects providing for the rearmament of old, retired desire ers with a vie® to preparing them especially for warfare against "subs" and planes. It "is expected that February's or March's Admiralty Budget provisions will shed some light upon these speculations.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.