U.S. BUDGET

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 27 August 1925, Page 5

U.S. BUDGET

NAVAL ESTIMATES.

AMENDMENTS MADE

TO MEET ECONOMY DEMANDS. BY CABLE— PRESS ASSOCIATION—con LIGHT (Received Aug. 27 ,10.10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 26. Following a statement from Swampscott that Mr Coolidge is resentful of what he considers propaganda in Washington against his economy programme and that he intends to carry through the proposed retrenchments despite efforts to make the army and Shipping Board suffer unless the appropriations are increased, the Navy Department declared after a week’s conference that it has finally worked out a revised estimate. meeting both ecenomy demands and the new Rudget. The current appropriations are barely sufficient to maintain the navy at present strength, which is below the standard allowed by the Washington Treaty. Reduction is possible only through the proposed curtailment of'activities, including several shore establishments on the eastern coast, slashing requirements _ for new construction, cutting aviation estimates, with the transfer to the Pacific of the major portion of the naval operations during the permanent location of the battle fleet there. _ Many officers are united in the belief that the navy is top heavy with shore activities on the Atlantic coast, though it is realised the proposal, to abolish any stations will meet with bitter political opposition.—A. and N.Z. Assn.