UNITED STATES NAVY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 191, 9 May 1940, Page 10

UNITED STATES NAVY

Authority Wanted To Build To Limit BATTLE FLEET REMAINING AT HAWAII (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) ■WASHINGTON, .May 7. The Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Harold Stark, in a letter to a member of the Naval Affairs Committee, Senator Allen Ellender, disclosed that he would ask for appropriations in Congress to enable the immediate construction of the navy to the authorized limit. This would involve adding 99,500 lons of battleships, 20,400 tons of aeroplane carriers, 81,849 tons of cruisers. 75,430 tons of destroyers, and 22,456 tons of submarines. These additions, in conjunction with the proposed 11 per cent, expansion which is shortly to come before Congress, would add a total of 490,360 tons to the navy, making a total in warships of 1,444,915 tons. It is announced officially from Honolulu that the United States battle fleet is remaining indefinitely in Hawaiian waters. Admiral Richardson, (lie commander-in-chief, said that the Navy Department had approved his request to remain for further tactical exercises and training.

DANGER TO AMERICAN INTERESTS

Effect Of German Victory (Received May 8, 7.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 7. After lunching at the White House with President Roosevelt, .Mr. J. IV. Gerard, who was United States Ambassador to Germany during the World War, stated to the Press: "Wo cannot afford to allow the Germans to win this war.” He said a German victory would produce an inevitable attack on United States interests In South America. Mr. Gerard emphasized that lie was expressing his own private views, He was of the opinion that the first attack would probably occur in southern Brazil and the Argentine, and added that both tlie Russians and tlie Germans were “making tremendous efforts in Mexico.” He said he felt that the Hitler Government was far more dangerous to world peace than the Kaiser’s because it was much more efficient.

FLEET RETURNS FROM MANOEUVRES

(Received May 8, 10.15 p.m.) HONOLULU, May 8. The fleet has arrived after two weeks’ extensive secret manoeuvres west of Hawaii. Next week it will carry out further training exercises off the Lahaina area.