“ORDERLY CONSTRUCTION”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 267, 1 February 1928, Page 1

“ORDERLY CONSTRUCTION”

AMERICA’S NAVY PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. WASHINGTON, Monday. The President, Mr. Coolidge, in an address to the heads of Government departments, said:—“The construction programme for the navy is now receiving the consideration of Congress. The authorisation of 1916 was the last complete navy programme and that has been practically completed. The recommendation now before Congress is to replace obsolete naval vessels and moderately increase our naval strength. “It contemplates an orderly construction and procedure—nothing more. It contemplates that the construction programme will be carried out as conditions dictate and the Treasury balances warrant. It considers our own requirements alone and carries no thought of an entry into competitive construction with any other nation. “The plan I have endorsed does not contemplate any limitation of time

concerning the beginning and completion of this tentative programme, hut it does contemplate the building of the ships as fast as possible.”—A. and N.Z.-Sun. FLEET’S AIR ARM REVISED ESTIMATES WASHINGTON, Monday. Rear-Admiral W. A. Moffett, chief of the Naval Aeronautical Bureau, has submitted to the Naval Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives revised figures concerning the proposed naval programme. He said 1,490 new airplanes, to cost over £17,600,000, with maintenance, would be necessary for the new air-craft-carriers and cruisers provided for in the proposal. The revised figures were made necessary by replacements which would be required in the next few years. Many obsolete airplanes would go out of service shortly. The new airplanes would be built in seven years, beginning in 1930, and would necessitate a total of 2,930 aviation officers and other ranks., —A. and N.Z. FIFTEEN WARSHIPS TO COST £5,000,000 DESTROYERS AND SUBMARINES LONDON, Tuesday. It is understood that the Admiralty is about to place orders with 'private shipyards for one flotilla leader, eight destroyers and five submarines, also for a six submarine to be built at the Chatham naval dockyard. The naval correspondent ol the “Daily Telegraph” says: “The competition has been of the keenest. There is no doubt the country will obtain the new warships at bedrock prices. Nevertheless, the shipbuilding and associated industries will probably benefit to the extent of £5,000,000.” The British Empire, from the armistice until the present day, has built or ordered only 10 destroyers and 16 submarines. The figures include contracts which are impending. The figures for other countries are as follows: United States, 77 destroyers, 30 submarines; Japan, 69, 61; France, 26, 54; Italy, 38, 18.—A. and N.Z. CANADA’S NAVY TWO NEW DESTROYERS Reed. 9.5 a.m. OTTAWA, To-day. The destroyers Torbay and Toreador have been transferred from the Royal Navy to the Canadian Navy and renamed H.M.C.S. Champlain and Vancouver respectively.—A. and N.Z.