U S. PLANS TO BUILD 71 NEW WAR VESSELS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18338, 15 December 1927, Page 8

U S. PLANS TO BUILD 71 NEW WAR VESSELS.

NAVAL PROGRAMME EMBODIED IN BILL. By Tcl.fciaph.— Preaa Aaan.-—Copyright. Aus. and N.Z. Cabl* Association. (Received December 15. 9.15 am.) WASHINGTON. December 14 Mr Curtis Wilbur. Secretary of the Navy, transmitted to Congress the naval building programme providing for seventy-one new vessels, costing nearly 800.000.000 dollars, together with a letter stating: “This programme ia not in conflict with the financial programme of the President.” A Bill embodying the programme was introduced immediately by Mr T. F. Butler, chairman of the House Naval Committee. The programme provides for twentyfive light cruisers, nine destroyer leaders, thirty-two submarines and five aircraft carriers. No time limit is provided for construction, but under the terms of the Bill the construction of light cruisers and aircraft carriers is subject to the Washington Treaty. The President is empowered in the Bill to suspend the programme whollyor partly at his discretion. Mr Wilbur explained that the estimated cost was merely speculative, but submitted a schedule totalling 720,000,000 dollars. Mr Butler said that the cost would be between 700.000.000 and 800.000.000 dollars. The estimates were as follows: —Light cruisers, 17.000.000 dollars each; destroyer leaders, 5,000.000 dollars each; submarines, 5,000.000 dollars each; aircraft carriers, 19,000,000 dollars each. This was the largest Navy programme submitted since 1916. Simultaneously the Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Mr Warner, who is in charge of aviation, told the llou®e Naval Affairs Committee that additional legislation by Congress will necessary before contracts can be negotiated for two dirigibles authorised last session, because the only bid received is higher than the sum fixed by Congress, which was 4.000,000 dollars.