AMERICAN NAVY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1933, Page 8

AMERICAN NAVY

LARGE BUILDING PROGRAMME

"SECOND TO NONE” POLICY

WASHINGTON. October .14

Although official confirmation is Jackin'*, the Hearst press from San Diego, California, where the Secretary of the iNavy, ;Mr C. A. Swanson, is visiting the headquarters of. the fleet—that the Government intends to build, over a long period, a navy that will be second to none in the world. The San Diego Despatch says : “A 23-year building programme which has been drafted by the Navy Department, an<l which will be submitted to Congress in January, calls for the construction of 375 ships by 1962, at an average annual expenditure of £20,000,000. “The first off these ships will ‘be laid down in 1935, ancl by accelerating construction in the first four years the navy will reach the London Treaty strength by 1939. “Jjfter that, building will taper off, and by a system of replacements the navy will maintained substantially at treaty limits throughout the entire period. ’

"The programme includes the retention of battleships, and is based on the, assumption that the London Treaty may., not be renewed by the three signatory .Powers—the United Stages. Britain and Japan.

“The plan provides for the construction of 20 battleships, eight aircraft carriers, 22 cruisw s with 8-inch gurs, 25 (cruisers with 6-inch guns, 201 destroyers and 99 submarines.