NAVAL PROGRAMME

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 115, 13 February 1928, Page 9

NAVAL PROGRAMME

OF UNITED STATES ESTIMATED COST INCREASE IN PERSONNEL BY Telegraph,—Press association. Copyright. Washington, February 10. According to an official of the Navy Department, the estimate submitted to the Naval Committee of the House of Representatives proposed a fiveyear naval programme, and, with the j .construction already begun, would cost J. 176,426,000 dollars. Under it 71 new 1 ships would be laid down during the live years beginning 1929, and would be completed in 1937. The expenditure would be spread over a similar period of years. Some members of the committee claim that such enormous figures prove their contention that the programme will cost far more than the 800,000,000 dollars originally submitted. The total includes an annual outlav approximating 117,000,000 dollars for nine vears, plus a maintenance appropriation of between 300,000,000 and* 350,000,000 dollars each year. The grand total includes aeroplanes and the personnel necessary to man five aircraft carriers, 25 cruisers, and a total of 1490 new ’planes. It would be necessarv to increase the personnel lo 20,000 men, who would be required to man all proposed additional ships. DESIRE TO REDUCE PROGRAMME (Rec. February 12, 11.5 p.m.) Washington, February 11. The huge naval programme proposed by the Administration has aroused such opposition that the House of Representatives Naval Committee has decided to begin on Wednesday’ to hear some of those who protest, which is an unusual procedure. A number of members of the committee have intimated a wish that the sum proposed by Mr. Wilbur for the programme be cut in half. NEW BRITISH VESSELS (Rec. February 12, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 11. The Admiralty is building the 10,000 ton cruiser Exeter at Devonport. It has also announced the names of nine destroyers and six submarines to be built in the current programme.