The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-01
HOUSE APPROVES POLICY FOR VAST
 NAVAL EXPANSION
New Three-Year Building Programme of 10 Battle ships and 10 Cruisers
 Recommended
By Associated Press

Washington, January 3f.-The
 administration policy of vast nav
 al expansion, unless world disar-
 mament becomes certainty
 , at Paris was approved today by
 the House naval committee in
 unanimously recommending new
 thrce-year building programme of
 10 battIeships and 10 scout cruis-
 CTS.
 Four democrats and two republicans were understood to have opposed the programme as originally outlined. but their approval was given after an amendment was accepted, that work on the new ships should not begin until after February 1. 1920. Adminis- tration leaders said the vote was an endorsement of the plan urged by Sec retary Daniels 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. the bill provides that the President may stop construc- ton at his discretion. n
 CONSTRUCTION POSTPONED
 While the programme as recom- mended does not authorize the six bat tie cruisers and 130 other smaller craft asked for by the department, it was explained that it had been decided to postpone construction of the vessels until naval experts could reach agree ment as to their designs based on ex perience gained in the war
 The agreement of the committee was reached at long executive ses- sion, after which Chairman Padgrtt, smiltngly announced that the decision had been unanimous. Mir. Padgett said the completed naval bill would carry a total of 750,000, 900, of which sum $169.000.000 would be for ship con- struction
 Work of completing the bill for in- troduction in the House was expected to be finished by tomorrow, and Mr. Padgett said he hoped to get the meas ure before the House next week,
 Besides providing for the new build ing programme, the bill authorizes a temporary naval force of 225.o00 men, exclusive of officers. and carries an amendment by Representative 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 lOT Lno pcIiOu or tDc WAT, II lucy .bp- ply for such change of status before next July l.
 After the committees decision it was learned that the navy general board. headed by Rear Admiral Fletcher IS studying the question of military char | acteristics of new ships closely. but has not as yet reached definite conclu- sions
 DEVELOPMENT THEORETICAL
 The one point on which there ap- pears to be substantial agreement is that no very radical departures in bat tleship or battle cruiser design has grown out of the great struggle. The engagements of heavy craft were too few to afford any clearcut lessons. it was said. and the development of these vessels continues to be largely on the- oretical lines.
 The last American battleships au- thorized were designed for displace- ment of 43.000 tons, carrying 12 16- inch guns in their main batteries and having a speed of 23 knots. The six battle cruisers for the navy authorized in 1916 constitute the most radical de- parture in naval design made by any nation. it was held because of their great speed and heavy batteries. They were designed for speed of B knots and to carry eight 16-inch guns. Some American officers favor devol- opment of composite battle craft. combining the speed of a battle cruiser with the guns and protection of bat tleship. Others, however, point out that to give a ship both the speed and the guns and armor would require great increase in size, probably to nearly the 60.000 tons displacement. the limit once set as the maximum craft that could pass Panama canal