U.S.A. ARMAMENTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 November 1938, Page 5

U.S.A. ARMAMENTS

CONTRACTS LET FOR THREE BATTLESHIPS MOUNTING SIXTEEN INCH GUNS AIR FORCE EXPANSION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. WASHINGTON, November 20. The Navy Department today announced that contracts had been awarded for 35,000-ton battleships mounting 16inch guns. The total cost, with armament will be 225,000,000 dollars. A start on building the fourth battleship has been delayed as the bid was so high that the designs are being reconsidered. This announcement coincided with the presentation by the Secretary of the Navy, Mr Swanson, of his annual report in which he urged the need of replacements, pointing oi4t that the United States was only slightly ahead of Japan in under-age tonnage. He added: “The fleet is prepared to execute at short notice its most vital function of keeping war from our coasts and bringing war to ,a close by defeating the enemy’s navy.” Representative G. Buell Snyder, chairman of the Military Appropriations Sub-committee, stated that President Roosevelt’s expanded national defence programme would provide the world’s strongest air force by 1942. He added that regardless of additions to be expected later, the War Department’s budget for the year started on June 30 would be 600,000,000 dollars, which is a peace time record.