The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-01
WEST COAST NAVAL
 REPORT PRESENTED
 ID BOTH HOUSES
Naval Appropriation Bill to Be Presented to House Wednes- day Carries About
 395 Millions
By Associated Press

by AsSOclhted Press
 Washington, January s1.-Recommen- dations for extensive naval development on the Pacific coast were reported to the Senate and House today in the joint committee appointed by Congress to in- vestigate and report upon the question lenses of the west coast. The commit tee after an exhaustive study of all ex- isting establishments and after personal inspection unanimously reported in fa- vor of creating four new military de- fcpses.
 The most important recommendation was for the establishment of naval fleet base at Alameda. on San Fran cisco Bay. This would supplement the Mare Island establishment, relieving it of all but construction and repair work and become the principle operating and supply base on the west coast
 Other recommendations can TOT a- aviation base in the Puget Sound region. to be located at Sand Point, Washington, and not to exceed $1.500.000 in cost; re- tention of Ediz Hook. Washington. for 'frture development in case of emer- gency as an operating station for small units of destroyers and submarines: es- tabiishment of submarine base not to cost more than s4,000.0o0 at San Perdo, In Los Angeles harbor. and the creation of n lighter than air naval aviation base at Camp Kearney, near San Diego.
 BIG CUT MADE
 Washington. January 3I--The naval appropriation bill, which will be reported to the House Wednesday, carries ap- prcximately s3s5 ,000,000, a reduction of priated a year ago and s2S4. .0oOo0 less than departmental estimates.
 An appropriation of S395 O00, GOO, in the opinion of members of the approprIa- tions subcommittee that framed the bii, would necesstate a reduction of the navy's enlisted personnel from pres ert possible maximum of 143 900 to a maximum of 100000, but would permit a continuation of the navy'sN Nbulding pro- sramme at the same rate as>during the current fiscal year.
 Chairman Kelley of the subcoh1rlrtt rttSss declared today that a force of i0V,nN regulars would be ample for the navys needs during the year beginning July l. The potential strength of the navy. he added can be maintained with this num- Der of men, and practically since ap- proximately 10000 men who formerly were blue jackets but now are civilians would be available for emergency.
 There will be no cut in the number Of officers, according to Representative Kelley, who said the subcommitte be- fieved every one of the S.5O0 now in service should be retained. Trained or- ficers. he declared are the nucleus Of an efficient naN,. and 1t would be mistake to force economies in that d. rection.
 EXPANSION POSSIBLE
 'tWe have drafted the bill with the aim of maintaining the potential strength of the navy so it can be quickly ex- pended in case of emergency said Mir. Kelley who added that during con- ference with President-elect Harding at Marion, he had gained the impression that Mir Harding favored such policy
 A navy of 100000 men would he suffi- cient to man all first-class fighting craft, according to the subcommittee chairman.
 We would have enough men to keep 100 destroyers and all of our subma- rines in service" he declared. Tt prob ably would be necessary to tie up some ships, but it it advisable to do that in order to economize.
 Use of only modern craft, the subcom- mittees report declared would cut down the amount of repair work at various shore bases and would permit reduction in land forces, and the possible abandon ment of some stations. No provision is made in the bill for the abandonment of any of the navys land bases. MT. Kelley asserting that such economies are mat ters of administration to be worked out by the next secretary of the navy.
 OLD SHIPS IN RESERVE Secretary Daniels, commenting tonight on the probability of reducing the en- listed personnel of the navy to 10000 men, said such curtailment necessar fly would result in placing number of the older battleships and smaller craft in reserve commission with skeleton crews but would not seriously cripple the navy.
 sThe committees action is not unex- pected,'' the naval chief said. We still win be able to keep all the latest bat tieships and about 50 per cent of the new destroyers in full commission"
 Secretary Daniels added that he had in his testimony before the sub- committee any reduction in the appro- priations for continuation of the build ing programme for naval aviation and for the development of bases and dock facilities on the Pacific coast and Ha- waii. ,s
 ..Those are the vital things that must go on now" said the secretary
 Representative Kelley said that the amount carried in the appropriation bill would permit monthly expenditure of N.500.000 on the navy's programme during the com ing fiscal year and would not necessi- tate the abandonment of any projects already started Expenditures on con- struction during the current year have been approximately s7.500 600 . month, he said The navy department requested