FIFTEEN CRUISERS

Evening Star, Issue 19799, 24 February 1928, Page 5

FIFTEEN CRUISERS

AMERICAN NAVAL PROGRAMME ADOPTED BY COMMITTEE I’fcss Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, February -.’,5. (Received February 24, at 9.15 a.m.) The Hou.sc Naval Committee adopted a programme of lit teen cruisers and otic aircraft carrier, to cost 274,500,000d01. The programme will bo embodied in a Bill to bo introduced by the Chairman, Senator Butler. The programme calls lor cruisers of KhWU tons each, to be laid down in three years and completed in six, with an aircraft earner of ]:i,BUt) tons to bo laid down in two years. The committee adopted a provision authorising the President to suspend the proposed construction wholly or partly it an agreement for further limitation is reached at any future disarmament cunlerenco. The estimated cost is only tor the vessels, and docs nut include the personnel and the necessary aeroplanes. The committee voted down proposals for submarines, on the grounds that the United States already has more submarine tonnage than any other nation. (Received February 2-1, at 11 a.m.) The committee rejected the proposal for the authorisation of submarine salvage ships, but voted to ask the navy to send it plans and specifications for two such vessels. The committee adopted a provision aimed to prevent the stoppage of work through failure of Congress to make appropriations, whereby tho Secretary of tbo Navy is required to present Congress annually estimates for _ tho construction of the ships. This is aimed to prevent tlie programme from becoming merely a paper programmeThe committee did not vote on tho President’s programme, because many members did not want to take up such an extensive programme with tho 1931 arms conference approaching. The committee adopted a three-year instead of a live-year programme on the ground that it was more economical from a shipbuilding standpoint to build in three years rather than five. The committee did not authorise any destroyer leaders, although President Coolidge proposed nine. Twelve arealready authorised under tho 1916 programme, and the appropriations can be asked later if they are found necessarv.