U.S. NAVY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1927, Page 1

U.S. NAVY

I.AIUJft EXPENDITURE. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.} NEW YORK. Dor. 12. The New York Tunes's correspondent states that President Cool id go has approved of the five year naval programme, which, according to members of Congress who saw it today, provides for an ultimate expenditure in excess of a thousand million dollars over a period (d live years, exreeding the expenditure for the HUG naval programme and approaching the latter in the number of ships authorised. It calls for twenty-six cruisers of leu thousand ton type, at a cost of about fifteen million dollars each; throe aeroplane carriers, five fleet submarines, eighteen destroyer-leaders to round out the fleet, and lour new battleships for replacements permitted by the Washington Treaty. According to those who have conferred with him. President Coolidgc desires the present Congress to commit the Ooverninent to the new programme which lie feels merely represents America’s own needs in roll tiding out her navy, and should not cause other nations to enter into naval ‘‘competition.’ It is understood that .Mr Y\ ilbur has indicated that the Government desires the expenditure to he only two hundred million dollars, during the. next fiscal year, but to authorise the whole programme. lie expressed the belief that there would he no objection on the part of other nations signatory to the Washington Treaty. Since the programme does not place the United States on a parity with other nations, and does not exceed the ~> —o—3 ratio to auxiliary ships. The General Board of the Navy recommended tho programme four weeks ago, and it lias been before the President for action for a fortnight. He obtafud much advice from naval technicians and state departments.

These battleships will cost about sixty million dollars, but that amount may bo greatly exceeded on account of the increased cost of production. It is understood Afr AVilbur has found that the sentiment of tiie House of Representatives is for a hie; navy, and favours the expendituree to make the American navy adequate. Representative Butler, Chairman of 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 battleships authorisation. He feels that if the President" can convince the country that such a programme is necessary, it might be enacted by Congres, hut personally, lie would prefer a much smaller pro. gramme, and one which he thinks might not .stimulate competitive activity in other nations. It is understood that as the result of opinions expressed by prominent members of tlie House, the programme may lie reduced by the elimination of battleships.

Speaker Longworth held several recent conference with the President and found that the latter strongly favoured an enlarged naval programme or one that would bring the American Navy’s trength near that of Britain. President Coolidge is represented as believing Britain and Japan will not renew negotiations for the conference to limit naval armament, and oven if ther should lie. such a conference, ike proposed naval programme, it is contended. would not interlace with -he limitation as far as the United States is concerned. Air AVilbur told members of Congress to-day that the President had not entirely abandoned hopes lor another conference. President Coolidge list winter "opposed Congressional attempts to obtain the additional cruiser programme, fec-ling that it would lnr.c n had effect upon the negotiations ajbout to begin at the Genova Naval Conference, but ho now held that the proposed ]yogrninmo would not militate against another successful conference, should one be held.