Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-02-01
HOUSE COMMITTEE
 APPROVES VAST
 NAVAL EXPANSION
World Disarmament May
 Interrupt Plans.
TEN EMPHASIZES
 AND TEN CRUISERS
Bill Calls For Seven Hundred and Fifty
 Million.

Washington, Jan. 3l.-The adminis- tration's policy of vast naval expan- sion unless world disarmament be- comes a certainty through internaton- al agreement at Paris, was approved today by the House naval committee in unanimously recommending new three year building program of ten great battleships and ten scout cruis- CTS.
 Four democrats and two republi- cans were understood to have opposed the program as originally outlined, but their approval was given after an amendment was accepted providing that work on the new ships should not begin until after February 1st, 1920. Administration leaders said the vote was an endorsement of the program announced by Secretary Dan- iels for an American navy second to none, unless limitations are imposed on all nations by the peace conference. Should an agreement for such limi- tation be reached theS bill provides that the President may stop construct ion at his discretion.
 While the program as recommend ed, does not authorize the six battle cruisers, and 130 other small craft asked for by the department. it was explained that it had been decided to postpone construction until naval ex- perts could reach agreement as to their designs based on experience gained in the war.
 Committee Agrees. The agreement of the committee was reached at long executive ses- sion, after which Chairman Padgett, announced that the decision had been unanimous.
 Mir. Padgett said the completed naval bill would carry total of $750,000,0OO, of which $169,OO000 would be for ship construction.
 Work of completing the bill for in- troduction in the House was expected to be finished by tomorrow and MT. Padgett said he hoped to get the meas ure before the House next week.
 Besides providing for the new build ing program, the bill authorizes temporary naval force of 225, 5,000 men exclusive of officers, and carries an amendment by representive Oliver, of Alabama, directing that men who enlisted in the navy during the war for the regular term of four years, shall be regarded as having enlisted for the period of the war, if they ap- ply for such change of status before next July 1st.
 No New Designs.
 One point on which there appears to be substantial agreement is that no very radical departures in battle ship or battle cruiser design has grown out of the great struggle.
 The last American battleships au- thorized were designed for a dis placement of 33,000 tons carrying twelve 16 inch guns in their main bat teries and having speed of 23 knots.
 The six battle cruisers for the navy authorized in 1916 constitute the most radical departure in naval design made by any nation, it was held, be- cause of their great speed and heavy batteries. They were designed for a speed of 35 knots and to carry eight 16 inch guns.
 Some American officers favor de- velopment of composite battle craft, combining the speed of battle cruiser with the guns and protection of a battleship. Others. however, point out thta to give shop both the speed and the guns and armor would require great increase in size, prob- ably to nearly tne 6O,000 ton displace- ment, the limit set as the maximum craft that could pass the panama canal locks.