NAVAL ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1929, Page 5

NAVAL ENQUIRY

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). < Received this day at 10.30. a.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 25. A letter was addressed to Homer. L. Ferguson (President of Newport News Shipbuilding < and Dry Dock coporation) last March, shortly after the crui-. ser Bill was passed. ■Shearer said he realised the serious opposition which confronted the programme and that the funds might not he appropriated; also the clause, requiring the start of construction by a given time was eliminated, and the number of cruisers might he reduced. Tie said the opposition came from the highest authority in the land including the Secretary of State, and all ol the internationalists and so-called pacifist bodies. . “As you are aware I was the possessor of a secret British document, so vital and amazing in its construction, that, I took it to the Navy Depnrmeut, where, under the highest authorities, the document was -photographed and that same evening a photostat copy was handed me. 1 immediately placed it in the hands of a United States Senator and the press of this nation reflected the power of liis voice when it referred to his speech for cruiseis as the greatest speech ever made in United States foi national defence; nor did that Senator hesitate to brand the opposition as trpitors.