The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-02-04
BIG BUILDING PLANS
APPROVED FOR NAVY
Administration Program Favored by
House Committee is Unanimous
Decision Unless Armament. of
Nations is Reduced by Action
of Peace Conferences.

| .. or Feace Sonfefence.
Washington, Jan. 31.-The admin
istration policy of vast naval expar-
sion unless world disarmament be-
comes a certainty through, interna-
tional agreement at Paris was ap-
proved today by the house naval com
mittee in unanimously recommend
ing new three year building pro-
gram Of ten great battieships and
ten scout cruisers.
Four democrats and two Republi-
cans were understood to have oppos-
ed. the program as originally outlin-
ed, but their approval was given af-
ter an amendment was accepted pro-
viding that work on the new ships
should not begin until after Febru
ary 1, 1920. Administration leaders
said the vote was an Endorsement of
the program announced by Secretary
Daniels for an American navy Sec
ond to none, unless limitations +, are
imposed on all nations by the peace
conference. Should an agreement for
such limitation be reached, the bill
provides that the president may
stop construction at his discretion.
While the program as recommend
ed does not authorize the six battle
cruisers and 130 other smaller craft
asked for by the department, it was
explained that it had been decided to
postpone construction Of these yes
sells until naval experts could reach
agreement as to their designs based
on experience gained in the war.
The agreement of the committee
was reached at long executive ses-
sion, after which Chairman Padgett
smilingly announced that decision
has been unanimous. Mr.. Padgett
said the completed naval bill would
carry a total of s750,o0O,00O, Of
which sum $780, 100000 would be
for ship construction.
Work Of completing the bill for in
PRODUCTION in the house was expected
to be finished by tomorrow when Mr.
Padgett said he hoped to get the
measure before the house next week.
Besides proving for the new build
ing program the bill authorizes for
temporary naval force of $4,000
men, exclusive of officers, and carries
an amendment by Representative o.
iver, of Alabama, directing that men
who Unlisted 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 apply for such change of status
before next July 1.
After the committees decision it
was learned that the navy general
board, headed by Rear Admiral
Fletcher, is studying the question Of
military characteristics of new ships
closely, but has not as yet reached
definite conclusions,
The one point on which there ap-
pears to be substantial agreement is
that no very radical departure in
battleship or battle cruiser design has
grown out of the great struggle. The
engagements of heavy craft were too
few to afford any clear-cut lessons, it
was said, and the development of
these vessels continues to be largely
on theoretical lines.
The last American battleships au-
'thorized were designed for a dis
placement of $4,000 tons, carrying 2
16-inch guns in their main batteries
!, and having a speed Of 2S knots an
hour. 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, because of their great speed
and heavy batteries. Thew were de-