BIGGER NAVY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 143, 14 December 1927, Page 11

BIGGER NAVY

AMERICAN PROGRAMME

COOLIDGE AND BRITAIN

SENTIMENT IN FAVOUR

(United Press Association. —Copyright.) NEW YOKE, 12th December. The "New York Times," Washington correspondent states that President Coolidge has approved of a five-year naval programme, which, according to members of Congress who saw it to-day, provides for an ultimate expenditure in excess of a thousand million dollars over a period of five yoors, exceeding the expenditure for the 1916 naval programme and approaching the latter in number of ships authorised. 1$ calls for twenty-sis cruisers of the 10,000----ton type, to cost about fifteen million dollars each; three aeroplane carriers, five fleet submarines, eighteen destroyers, leaders to round out the fleet, and four new battleships for replacements permitted by the Washington Treaty in 1932. These battleships will cost about sixty million dollars, but that amount may be greatly exceeded on account of the increased cost of production. PROSPECTS IN CONGRESS. ' It is understood that "Mr. Curtis D. Wilbur (Secretary of the Navy) has found that the sentiment of the House of Representatives is for a big navy, and favours expenditure to make the American navy adequate. Representative Butler, chairman of i the House Naval Affairs Committee, will probably introduce the measure in the House to-morrow. He is not in accord with all its provisions, being opposed to the battleship authorisation. He feels that if the President can convince, the country that such a programme is necessary it might be enacted by Congress, but personally he would prefer a much smaller programme, one which he thinks might. not stimulate competitive activity in other nations. It is understood that as a result of opinions expressed by prominent members of the House, the programme may be reduced by the elimination of the battleships. CONFERENCE NOT AFFECTED. Speaker Longworth held several conferences with the President recently, and found the latter strongly favoured an enlarged naval programme, one that would bring the American Navy's strength nearer that of Britain. President Coolidge is represented as believing that Britain ami Japan will not renew negotiations for a conference to limit naval armament, and even if there should be .such a' conference the proposed naval programme, it is contended, would not interfere with limitation as far as the Unite T States is concerned. . ■ • ■ ■ Mr. Wilbur told members of Congress to-day that the President had not entirely abandoned hopes for another conference. President Coolidge last winter opposed Congressional attempts to obtain an additional cruiser programme, feeling that it would have a bad effect upon the negotiations about to Vgin at the Geneva Naval Conference, but he now held that the proposed programme would not militate against another successful conference, should one be held. „.,'.. ; COMPETITION UNINVITED. According, to those who have conferred with him, President Coolidge desires the present Congress to commit the Government to the new Programme, which he feels merely represents America's own needs in rounding out her navy, and should not cause other nations to enter into naval "competition." It is understood that Mr. Wilbur has indicated that the Government desires the expenditure to be only two hundred million dollars turing the next fiscal year, but to authorise the i-holo programme. He expressed the belief that there would be no objection on the part of other nations signatory to the Washington treaty, since the programme does not place the United Stateß ou a parity with otlwr nations, and docs not exceed the 5-5-3 ratio in auxiliary ships. The General Board of tne Navy recommended the programme four weeks ago, and it haß been before tho President_ for action for a fortnight. He obtained much advice from naval technicians and the State Detriment.