The New York herald., 1921-02-02
sADMRALS OPPOSE
! 6 MONTHS RECESS
/ in NAVAL BUILDING
C0Ontz and Taylor Also De-
fend Capital Ship as Ef-
fective Unit.
ACTION is POSTPONED
subcommittee Is Named to
Get Full Report From the
Navy General Board.
PLAN APPEARS DOOMED
Committee Members Predict
Report viii Not Favor Halt
in Construction.
PLAN APPEARS DOOMED
Special Despatch to THE NEw YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
IVA shinrtnn Id q Eeh- 4

Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., Feb. l.
The proposed six months suspension
of the naval building programme con-
templated in the resolution of SEN
ator Borah (Tdaho), recently adopted
by the Senate, was fatty opposed to-
day by Admiral Robert L. Coontz
chief of naval operations, and Rear
Admiral David w. Taylor, chief of the
bureau Of construction and repair. in
executive testimony before the Senate
Committee on Naval Affairs.
They were summoned to appear be-
fore the committee to furnish informa-
ton not only as to the advisability of
suspending the naval building pro-
gramme but also to give their opinion
as to the efficiency of the capital ship
and whether or not it is obsolete, as has
been intimated by Senator Borah in
speeches in the Senate. They denied
that the capital ship is inefficient. and
insisted that the present programme
ought to be continued without inter-
ruption, asserting that to suspend it for
six months not only was unnecessary
but would result in greater loss to the
Government than TO suspend it for any
longer period.
After considerable discussion the
committee decided to ask a more COM
plete report on the building programme
and the merits of the capital ship as an
efficient fighting arm of the navy from
the Navy General Board, and named a
subcommittee consisting Of Senators
Poindexter (Wash.), Lodge (Mass.)
nj Gnafth fNA / n consider tho raDOrt
to be submitted from the General Board
and later report their conclusions to the
full committee.
The subcommittee is 10 meet next
Thursday, at which time it is understood
the facts will be furnished by the Cen
eral Board and will be made the basis
for the final report to the Senate as
called for by the Borah resolution.
The general opinion is expressed by
members of the Naval Affairs Commit
tee that their report will recommend
continuation Of the building programme
on the theory that the capital ship is
desirable and efficient weapon of naval
warfare. High naval officials already
have disputed the contention of Gen.
Mitchell of the Army Aircraft Service
that the development of aviation and
aerial bombing has rendered the capita
ship useless
the committee brought up at the meet
ing tho question OF alleged control by
British interests Of the worlds oil supply
and urged an investigation of the charge
before the Naval Committee. After
some dcsultory discussion it was infor-
mally agreed that IL any investigation
% the matter were to be made by COM
mittee in Congress it was more appro-
pirate for consideration by the Foreig,
Relations Committee than the Naval Az
fairs Committee. II is generally believed
that this will not be entered into during
the present Administration, but that it
may become the subject OF serious con-
sidcration after March 4.
The committee discussed Informally
also the matter OF confirmation Of new
naval appointments sent TO the Senate
by the President. 1t Is understood that
appointccs can be confirmed after March
without losing their rank or right to
promotion. and therefore it is probable
these combinations viii 20 over instead
OF being acted upon In open session OF
the Senate. as was done in the case OF
the $500 appointments of army officers
named under provisions OF the Army
Reorganization act