SIXTEEN SHIPS.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 27 February 1928, Page 6

SIXTEEN SHIPS.

UNITED STATES’ REDUCED PROGRAMME. (Received Sunday 5.5 p.m) WASHINGTON, Feb. 25. It is understood that President Coolidgc does not believe that the House’s sixteen ships’ programme will provide sufficient vessels for adequate national defence. The President is still insistent it would Rave been better to have adopted the seventy-ono vessels' programme and feels there should be no time limit on construction and ihat the vessels should be built as the financial situation warrants. He holds that the time limit in the proposed House Bill is not binding on another Congress, which might desire and could repeal it. It is not likely, however, that the President will veto the measure, par ticularly since it is indicated that various leaders in the House of Representatives will support the Committee s programme. A cable during the week stated that the House of Representatives’ Naval Affairs Committee adopted a programme. of 15 cruisers and one aircraft carrier which will cost 2744 million dollars. The programme will be embodied in the Bill to bo introduced by Representative Butler, chairman of the Committee. The programme calls for the cruisers, of 10,00.0 tons each, to be laid down in three years and completed in six, with the aircraft carrier, .of 13,800 tons, to be M(I down in ..two years.

The Committee adopted the '.provision authorising the President to suspend the proposed construction wholly or partly, if an agreement for furtlie/ limitation is reached at a future Disarmament Conference. The estimated cost is only for the '•■ossels and does not include the personnel and necessary aeroplanes. The Committee voted down propo.-aH for h submarine on the ground tint the United S-,tes aiu-ady has nu"o submarine ton tage than any other nation. The Committee rejected a proposal fci the authorisapoi'. of submarine salvage ships ,but it "iiUd to ask the Navy to send it plans and specifications for two such vessels f The Committee adopted a provision aimed to prevent the stoppage of the work through the failure of Congress to make appropriations. Under thio provision the Secretary of the Navy is required to present to Congress an nually the estimates for the construction of the ships provided so that the work can proceed. This is aimed to prevent the programme from becoming merely a papet programme. The Committee did not vote on the President’s‘programme; because many members did not want to take up sudh an extensive programme with the 1931 Arms Conference approaching. Tho Committee adopted a thrccyoar instead of a five year programme on the ground thrat it was more economical from a shipbuilding standpoint to build in throe years rather than five. The Committee did not authorise any destroyer loaders, although President Coolidgc proposed nine. Twelve are already authorised! under the 1916 programme and appropriations can be asked .later if they are found to be necessary. ■