AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1924, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

AUITKALIAN AND N.Z. CAULS ASSOCIATION. L’.S.A. NAVAL MANOEUVRES. WASHINGTON, December 13. Increased appropriations, sufficient to enable the Xnv.v to make its contemplated cruise to Australia, arc contained in tho Annual Naval Appropriation Hill, which was reported to the House by tile Appropriations Committee today. The action of Congress is now awaited and this is expected shortly. The Bill provides 15,100,000 dollars for fuel for the fleets for the fiscal year 1920 lieginning in June next, which is the .exact amount requested bv the Navy Department and sanctioned by the Budget Bureau, and also the contemplated added fuel expenditure necessitated by the Australian visit. The figure represents an increase of 900,000 dollars over last year, and it is estimated that the Australasian visit will cost that sum. The fuel appropriation is the only one needed as the visit does not entail any increase in pay or other -supply items. The .Bill does not specifically mention the Australasian cruise or the Hawaiian manoeuvres as no legislative authorisation is necessary.

Senator Borah, the newly designated Chairman of the Senate Foreign Delations Committee, on being asked to comment on the Australasian visit, said he did not wish to be quoted as he •mid not. studied the situation, but he saw no reason .for ‘‘going so far away for tho manoeuvres.”