THE AMERICAN NAVY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20643, 15 February 1929, Page 9

THE AMERICAN NAVY

CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME. PRESIDENT SIGNS BILL. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) WASHINGTON, February 13. President Coolidge to-day signed the Cruiser Bill.—Australian Press Associa-tion-^—United Service. FINDING THE FINANCE. ■ LEADERS CO-OPERATING. WASHINGTON, February-13. : The Cruiser Bill was signed with little ceremony after a conference with Congressional loaders concerning ways and means to provide the necessary 50,000,000 dollars in this and the next fiscal year. There is no official comment, but it is indicated that all the leaders are willing to co-opei'ate with President Coolidge’s wish rigidly to hold down legislative appropriations in . order to provide for the cruisers under the present Budget.—Australian Press Association. STATEMENT BY MR BRITTEN. USUAL TILT AT BRITAIN. I 1 . _____ WASHINGTON, February 13. (Received Feb. 14, at 5.5 p.m.) Mr F, E. Britten, chairman of the House Naval Affairs Committee, has issued a statement praising President Coolidge for signing the Bill and asserting that the naval construction programme adopted by Britain “ is a distinct menace to 1 the balance of world power.” Mr Britten also asserted that the accepted principles of the Washington Conference had been violated by each of its signatories except the United States, thus leaving the American Navy far behind the 5—5—3 ratio. The statement added: “The President knows better than anyone else that his Geneva Conference for further limitation of ships of war failed because our representatives would not agree to limit our navy to the kind of ships best adapted for British uses.”—Australian Press Association.