NAVAL ECONOMY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1925, Page 5

NAVAL ECONOMY

AMERICA'S PROGRAMME

RETRENCHMENT IN THE

ATLANTIC

DEPARTMENT EEVISES ITS

ESTIMATES,

(UNITED MESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.)

(AUSNULIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received 27th August, 11 a.m.)

WASHINGTON, 26th August. Following a statement issued at Swampscott that President Coolidge is re-* sentful of what he considers to be propaganda, in Washington against the economy programme, and that he intends to

carry through the proposed retrenchments despite efforts to make the army and the Shipping Board suffer unless their appropriations are increased, 4 the Navy Department declared that, after a week's conference, it has finally worked out a revised estimate to meet the economy demands of the new Budget. The current appropriations) says the Department, are barely sufficient to maintain the navy at its present strength, which is below that allowed by the Washington Treaty. Reduction is possible only through the proposed curtailment of naval activities, including the operations of several shore • establishment* on the eastern coast, the reduction of requirements for new construction, and the cutting down of the aviation estimates and activities, with the transfer to the Pacific* of the major portion of the naval activities during the permanent location of the battle fleet on that coast.

Navy officers are united in the belief that the navy is top-heavy with shore activities on the Atlantic side, though it ia realised that the proposal to abolish any of the stations will meet with bitter political opposition.