A SIXTEEN VESSEL PROGRAMME FOR U.S.

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6543, 27 February 1928, Page 7

A SIXTEEN VESSEL PROGRAMME FOR U.S.

President Disapproves, But Unlike; to Veto 71 SHIPS BETTER, STILL INSISTS [By Electric Cable-Copyright.] [Aust and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Sunday 5.5 p.m) WASHINGTON, Feb. 25. It is understood that President Coolidge does not believe that the House’s sixteen ships’ programme will provide sufficient vessels for adequate national defence. The President is still' insistent it would have been better to have adopted the seventy-one vessels’ programme and feels there should bo no time limit on construction and . that the vessels should bo built as the financial situation warrants. Ho holds that the time limit in the proposed House Bill is not binding on another Congress, which might desire and could repeal it. It is not likely, however, that the President will veto the measure, particularly since it is indicated that various leaders in the House of Representatives will support the Committee’s programme. A cable during the week staled that the House of Representatives’ Naval Affairs Committee adopted a programme of 15 cruisers and one aircraft carrier which will cost 2744 million dollars. The programme will bo embodied in the Bill.to be introduced by Representative Butler, chairman of the Committee. The programme calls for the ' cruii&rs, of 10,000 tons each, to be laid down in three years and completed in six, with the aircraft carrier, of 13,800 tons, to be laid down in two years. The Committee adopted the provision authorising the President to suspend the proposed construction wholly or partly, lif an agreement for further limitation is reached at a future Disarmament Conference. The estimated cost is only for tie vessels and does not include the personnel and necessary aeroplanes. 1 The Committee voted down propo.-n.13 for b submarine on tjjjc ground that the United Suites already has mro submarine ton-iago than any other nation. / Tho Committm rejected a proposal fci the authorisation of submarine salvage ships ,but it '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 the work through the failure of Congress to make appropriations. Under this provision the Secretary of the Navy is required to present to Congress an nually tho estimates for the construction of the 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 tho 1931 Arms Conference approaching. The Committee adopted a throoyoar instead of a five year programme on the ground thrat it was more economical from a Shipbuilding standpoint to build in three years rather than five. The Committee did not authorise any destroyer loaders, although President Coolidge proposed nine. Twelve are already authorised under tho 1916 programme and appropriations can bo asked later if they are found to bo necessary.