The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-02-01
Vast Naval Expansion By America If
The Greet Nations Do Not Disarn1
DEFINITE ACTION BY
HOUSE COMMITTEE
Three-Year Building Program
of Twenty Powerful
Warships.

W.ASHiNGTON =. &. Jan. 3l.-Th''
administration 1"llry - Ea>; "aNHi ~
aansica unless world disarmament h''
rrrncs = certainty tacuush i@t'rna:!"na'
agreement At Paris. WAS approved :'"tE
o. the houSc naval ,.,,mG.t;c's n uaan'-
rnouSly recommending Il thr""-E"7-
ouildtns, program ot - great ba;tlcsh!ps
and 70 SCOUT cruisers
Four Democrats and two Republicans
were Understood 20 haze opn"S". ts''
program as originally uutlincl. hu. their
approval was given after an amendment
WIS accepted pr"viding that work on
the new ships should not begin until
after February l. 1927. administration
leaders said The vot" was an crdorSe-
rncut OF the program ANNOUNCED by
secretary Daniels for au American navy
second 70 none, unless limitations are
imposed on all nations by the peace con-
terence Should an agreement for such
limitation be reached. the bill provides
hat the president may stop construction
" his discretion.
While ;hc present program. as recon-
mcnded does not authorize the six bat
;.c cruisers and I3v other smaller craft
asked for by thc Department. it wa5
.<plaiucd that il had been decided ~
roS:oonc constructions Of thcs" vessels
until naval eNp:ct$ AnU!d rcacn IN
agreement as IL their designs. based On
experience gained ~ III" war.
The ;tgr.crncnt "t t!;c c"tnnl;tcc was
reached a, u Irag executive session. alter
which Chairman >p,dg"it s;nilingly an
bounced n" ,icyiSiuu unanimous.
Mr.. PadS"it said tn" completed naval
3,ll would ,;trry :, :otai "t $I5H.enn.oo"'
"s which Sum $tG2.1V4.Hpo would DC
;or ship construction.
Work OF completing ;il. bill for intro
Iuc;iru in IA" h"u<, wtsi expected 10 9"
finished BY t"mnrrnw. ;tut Mr.. l'adg"tt
S;iitI n, hoped :" get ihc measure before
,lc house next week.
l:"$ld.& pru:it.:nS ior IL" n"w huiiH-
;ng program III. h:lt AUTHORIZES u cent
rorary naT;.l fore" OF .@I."on In:a. "N-
elusive ut officers. and carries an
;.nsrndm"nt by Representatives Oliver or
Alabama directing ;hat n!c:i who en-
listed in tn" navy during III" war tnr
ih,> regular term o. fnu" years shalt De
regarded aS having enlisted fer tHr pc
riod Of the war. if te"y apply for Sucn
change OF status before ncNs July l.
The one point on wlu"h there appears
- b. substantial aEr"cmen; is that no
very EcultSli u''p'ti Nh' Iil S'NSh"N>'''e
:,title cruiser design has grown out q!
th. great struggle. The engagements
pi heavy craft VIZ" L." few 20 afford
any clcar-CUt lessons. 1t was said. ana
he development "f these vessels con
,;nucs TO tc largely on theoretical lines.
The last American batticships author.
tZed were designed fpr n. displacement
:: $4,000 tons carrying y l6-inch guns
n their main batteries and having
.p"Hd % % knots.
Tho six battle cruisers for the naTH
authorized in 1916 constitute" III" most
"adical departure IN nava! design o! any
nntion. i; was bold because OF their
.rc,t speed and heavy batteries. IhcE
;yerc Designed for 4 spool "f 80 Nnots
,.r.; 70 carry eight ir-lnch guns.
some American officers favor der"i-
,Dnent OF n a,ccrrrosic" battle craft conf
:, ming the speed OF Il battl" cruiser ~itA
ne guns ard protection OF hattG"Sh'p.
Others. however. point out that I" S''"
, shin both the speed and the guns arc
,-uor would require great increase III
size, probably 20 n"arly the 6p.o"O t'n
disbursement. the limit ono" set as ur+
maximum craft that could pass t''t
G,a-tmcricaa Cana! locks.