INCREASE SOUGHT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 90, 16 April 1940, Page 7

INCREASE SOUGHT

AMERICAN NAVY. Outcome Of European War Developments. COMPARISON WITH JAPAN. United Press Association.—Copyright. f (Received 11., V) a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 15. Admiral H. R. Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, told the Senate Naval Affairs Committee that developments in the European war make it advisable to increase the fighting strength of the United States Navy 25 per cent. He declared that the Navy Expansion Bill, passed on March 12, expanding the tonnage 11 per cent, is acceptable, but a 25 per cent increase would better nieet the defence needs.

He added that he did not seek for the navies of the Atlantic and Pacific a 25 per cent increase, but merely enough to permit the maintenance of a 5-3 ratio with Japan.

There was no reliable information as to Japanese building since 193«, but it was probable that the minimum compared with the United States was eight American to eight Japanese battleslifps, two American to four Japanese aircraftcarriers, six American to eight Japanese cruisers, 39 American to 32 Japanese destroyers, 19 American to 20 Japanese submarines.

He added that he was not able to vouch for the accuracy of the figures, but it was unlikely to be less, and may be much more.