BIG CUT IN NAVAL PROPOSALS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 126, 25 February 1928, Page 9

BIG CUT IN NAVAL PROPOSALS

DECISION OF UNITED STATES COMMITTEE REDUCTION NEARLY TWOTHIRDS PROVISION FOR SUSPENSION OF CONSTRUCTION Subject to a provision for the suspension of construction if an agreement for further limitation of naval armaments should be reached, the Naval Committee of the United States House of Representatives has authorised the new construction programme. The authorised proposals, however," have been cut down by nearly two thirds of the original estimate. By Telegraph.—Press association. Copyright. Washington, February 23. The House Naval Committe on Thursday decided to authorise the construction of fifteen cruisers and one aircraft carrier as against the Administration’s programme of seventv-one vessels. The cost of the committee’s programme is estimated at 274,000,000 dollars as against the Administration’s 740,000,000 dollars. The committee also provided for the definite completion of the ships, the first to be laid down within three years from the passage of the Act, and all to be completed within six years.— A.P.A. and “Sun.” CRUISERS OF 10,000 TONS EACH NO PROVISION FOR SUBMARINES Washington, February 23. The programme will be embodied in a Bill to be introduced bv the chairman (Representative Butler). It calls for cruisers of. 10,000 tons, each to be laid down in three vears and completed in six, with an aircraft-carrier of 13,800 tons, to be laid down in two years. The committee adopted a provision authorising the President to suspend the proposed construction wlwUv or partly, if an agreement for a further limitation were reached at a future Disarmament Conference. The committee adopted a three-year instead of a five-year programme on the ground that it was more economical from the shipbuilding standpoint to build in three vears rather than five. The committee did not authorise, any dcstrover leaders, although President Coolidge proposed nine. Twelve are already authorised under the 1016 programme and appropriations can be asked later, if they are found necessary. No Additional Submarines. The estimated cost is only for the vessels and does not include the personnel and necessary airplanes. The committee voted down proposals for submarines on the ground that the United States already has more submarine tonnage than any other nation. The committee rejected a proposal for the authorisation of submarine salvage ships, but voted to ask the navy to send it plans and specifications for two such vessels. . . The committee adopted a provision aimed to prevent the stoppage of work through the failure of Congress to make appropriations whereby the Secretary of the Navy is required to present to Congress annually estimates for the construction of ships provided so that the work can proceed. This is aimed to prevent the programme from becoming “merely a paper programme.’ The committee did not vote on the President’s programme because many members did not want to take up such an extensive programme with the 1931 Arms Conference' approaching.