ACCORD EXPECTED ON U.S. NAVAL BILL

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6538, 21 February 1928, Page 7

ACCORD EXPECTED ON U.S. NAVAL BILL

Obsolete Vessels to Be Replaced by New PROGRAMME COMPLETED IN 1938 . [By Electric Cable-Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cablo Association.] (Received Monday, 7.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 19. Representative Britten predicts that tho House Naval Affairs Committee will agree on the replacement building programme. He says the Bill will probably provide for twenty-five cruisers to replace twenty-two obsolete ships, five aircraft carriers, and thirty-five submarines, all to bo completed by 1936. “ The programme before us,” ho says, <l is almost entirely one of replacement. I believo that our annual dccp ; sea commerce of twenty billion dollars fully justifies the precautions which this programme will provide.” Representative Britten points out that tho Bill will Hot provide for -destroyer leaders, but the Navy Department may later request appropriations for nine such vessels.