NAVAL COMPETITION

Evening Star, Issue 19632, 11 August 1927, Page 5

NAVAL COMPETITION

AMERISA’S ATTITUDE MODEIIAT E B UILDING PROGRAMME. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, August 9. The Now York ‘ Times ’ says that at Rapid City President Coolidge to-day explained the American position on naval defence after a conference with Mr C. D. Wilbur. The President intimated, that the Geneva failure must not bo made the cause fcr naval competition, and so far as his influence could be exerted the United States would continue with it? moderate naval building programme, completing the five-year building plans to round out the fleet and provide the necessary light cruisers and other auxiliary craft. The United States would build only what was needed tc strengthen the lighting effectiveness of her capital ships. The failure at Geneva did not justify the United States in considering anything beyond its defensive requirements, and bis belief was that American sentiment would not support the demand iur auxiliary craft placing America at ilio same l#lativo strength as Britain. 1H SOUTH DAKOTA

PRESIDENT AT RAPID CITY Tli© opening ol President Coolidgo s luuuner iu tlie Black Hills brought him Ills quietest hours at homo tor many months. The South Dakotans felt that he should be left alone for vacation, and they did. Warm weather made its tardy arrival, and sunshine brought out beauties of the region lost iu the dusk and cool of his coming (said the representative of the ‘ Christian Science Monitor’). Altogether, the temporary White House in the North-west appears to have made a splendid start. The Presidential summer home is at this time (June 17) particularly peaceful. While it stands Goyds_ from a through highway to the Pacific coast, the tourist season started and at nc period at this remote spot will it sec the tourist procession as the East knows it. The summer White House is a “ homey place,” set iu artificially wild surroundings, yet native. Three tracts of some eighty acres each have been fenced off for Rocky Mountain sheep, mountain goats, dcf?r ; and elk. Each inelosuro begins at the brook and runs up the steep hillside on that side of the valley. The goats, and sheep are wild, hut if they would drink they must come down to be seen now by Hie President and Mrs Coolidgc and any traveller whose car is then passing by. Several elk came down within sight of the lodge of the President's fir-t day, rnd he had also a sight of ’lie buffaloes. Up the road they have a water hole, ami there a buffalo in her old rought coat came with her husky calf to drink. Of the buffaloes once so mimerour that a boat could hardly make its way among them as they swam the Missoiir River, 104, with their twenty calves, ramble over the hills on the way to the summer White House. The State Park has some 3.000 elk and between 1,500 and 2.000 deer. Fishing is one of the President’s recreations. There an some magnificent pools in the neighborhood which provide fine sport.