SEA SUPREMACY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24826, 28 January 1942, Page 5

SEA SUPREMACY

AMERICA’S NAVAL PLANS STUPENDOUS PROGRAMME WASHINGTON. (Rec. 7 p.m.) Jan. 26. The largest naval appropriation in history, totalling 17,722.000,000 dollars, designed to give the United States unquestioned supremacy of the seas, has been approved by the Appropriations Committee. Of this sum 8,000,000,000 dollars will be allotted to increased naval tonnage from battleships to tugs. Committee reports described the new naval programme as stupendous, but it could be accomplished with unbelievable despatch. Giving evidence before the committee Read-admiral Towes, the aeronautics chief, indicated that increased attention- would be given to the naval air arm with a view to finding a balance between fighting ships and fighting planes, ensuring team work. A larger number of aircraft carriers would be provided and naval plane production would be speeded up from 500 to 1500 a month. Rear-admiral Correll'told the committee that the United' States expected to lose Guam Island because it had no defences. It was intended primarily as a listening post and supply station. The situation at Wake Island was different. Although they did well there, it they had received proper warning they could have done even better.