SUBSTANTIAL CUT IN NAVAL BUILDING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 7

SUBSTANTIAL CUT IN NAVAL BUILDING.

US. PROGRAMME.

Reduction Of 500,000,000 Dollars Announced.

PROPOSED AUTHORISATION,

Uatted Prem AenocJatton.—Copyright

(Received 10.30 a.m.)

WASHINGTON, January 19.

The chairman of the Naval Affairs ('otnmittee, Mr. Carl Vinson, has cut Ihe proposed 1,300,000,000 dollars unval construction authorisation to dollars.

The cut, has been made l>y eliminating 34 doatroyers, anil reducing the tonnage of the proposed expunsion from •WO.OOO to 218,000.

It will include three aircraft carriers, ■Tt MiibmarinoM, and an unspecified number of cruiaere, leaving to the Navy's, discretion the specific numbers built within the authorised tonnage.

Mr. Vinaon aaid it would be possible til build four 27,500-ton cruisers, compared with the present 10,000-ton limit.

The construction would be divided as follows:—Aircraft enrriera, 73,000 tons; uuisers, 110,000 tons, and submarine, :n,ooo tons. *

Mr. Vinaon said the changes would not restrict the Navy's programme. The Navy could not build faster than the new proponale provided. If conditions were similar next year the balance of tlio programme could be completed.

The "New York Times'* announced In at November that a bill seeking authority for tho construction of 95 combatant and 31 auxiliary vessels would be introduced into Congress next * It would provide for new >liips costing 1,300,000,000 dollars, and «oiild increase tlio naval air strength In » minimum of ROOO machines.

Tho new combatant vessels were to include only aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and submarines. The eight hnttleships under construction were doomed sufficient for the present. The ship* were to include three aircraft rarriers, eight cruisers, 52 destroyers and 32 submarines. The programme might be completed in between three and four years. It was understood President Roosevelt was supporting it.

TRAINING MISHAP.

Three Soldiers Killed In

England. SECRET EQUIPMENT. (Uceuived 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 18. An arcident. involving special equipment, of which the details are secret, killed three and seriously injured one man of the Queen's Royal Regiment, which is stationed »t Dorset.