UNITED STATES NAVY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18722, 30 May 1924, Page 7

UNITED STATES NAVY.

' APPROPRIATION BILE.

CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME. J. £ - t :'; r/ ~. . "... -.i /y-V-i-a <•' v.y ~ , .- COST, 294,000,000 DOLLARS. ..'V- s ' '.f'. . '' il' y-i ■■ DECREASE ; ON LAST YEAR. | Bi Telegraph—-Press Association— ! (Received 11.5 p.m.) - A. and N.Z.i-Reuter". WASHINGTON, May 28 The House; of Representatives ; "has passed . the. Naval Appropriation Bill, which is designed to bring the United States Navy to the 5—5 ratio fixed by the Washington Conference. . The measure authorises the construction of eight scout cruisers and six river gunboats, besides extensive improvements to six battleships. An amendment was accepted by the House • authorising the President to suspend the building programme should another Naval Armaments Limitation Conference be . held. , '■■■ ,i ; ■ Of the total appropriation it is proposed to use 8,360,000 dollars for the conversion of , the battleships New York, Texas, Florida, 1 Utah, Kansas • and. Wyoming to oil-burners, and for the installation of additional protective devices against submarines, and aeroplanes. The proposed cruisers will be of 10,000 tons displacement, and will cost 11,100,0(56 dollars each, without their armour. .

• The House rejected an amendment to authorise the appropriation of • 6,500,000 dollars to elevate the guns on 13 battleships, by 74 votes to 54. ; - -

The President, Mr. Calvin , Ooolidge, has signed the bill. 'It contains a provision authorising him to call; another conference on the limitation of naval armaments. \, . ■

The bill carries the smallest annual appropriations for the navy since the European War. It authorises 294,000,000 dollars, as compared with 330,000,000 dollars appropriated last year.