AMERICA’S NAVY

Evening Star, Issue 19803, 29 February 1928, Page 5

AMERICA’S NAVY

THE NEW PROGRAMME STATEMENT BY MR BRIDGEMAN. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, February 28. (Received February 29, at 9 a.m.) Mr W. C. Bridgeraan (First Lord of the Admiralty) publicly pointed out that tho Government Lad been charged with the responsibility for America’s big navy programme. It was noticeable that it was greatly decreasing, and had now almost reached what Britain proposed to the Coolidgc Conference at Geneva. A MODERATE PROGRAMME. NOT LIKELY TO CAUSE ALARM. WASHINGTON, February 28. (Received February 29, at 11.30 a.m.) President Coolidgo feels that there is nothing in the modified naval programme likely to alarm other countries, but rather it will he regarded throughout the world ns exceedingly moderate. The President holds that nothing further can be done towards sea disarmament by agreement among the three leading naval powers until the 1931 Treaty Conference, and that as at present the United States programme is below tho 300,000 tons for cruisers which the American delegation set as a minimum at the Geneva Conference, and which the British and Japanese considered too low, the programme, therefore, will meet with the approval of Britain and Japan. In the meantime the House Committee has changed the Bill to read that all sixteen vessels planned in the programme must be laid down in three years, but not necessarily completed within six.