The New York herald., 1921-10-13
navy PUSHES PLANS
IN FACE OF PARLEY
Additional Money for Air
craft Carriers Will Be
Asked Of Congress.
TO KEEP ON BUILDING
Action Is Reply to Those
Who Expect the Confer
ence to 'Disarm.'
CERTAIN UNITS ARE VITAL
Must Be Completed to Insure
for U. s. a Well Rounded
Fleet.
TO KEEP ON BUILDING
CERTAIN UNITS ARE VITAL
Special Despatch to THE Nrw YosK HERALD

Special Despatch to THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. C., Oct. I2.
The Navy Department plans to ask
Congress Immediately for additional
appropriations to build aircraft car
riers for the Navy and will go ahead
with its building programme regard
less Of the arms conference.
Official announcement to this effect
was made to-day by Secretary DENLY
to the House Naval Affairs Commit
tee. The department sees that de-
cisions by the conference cannot be
anticipated and realizes that the Navy
is lacking in certain elements of a
well rounded fleet.
The Secretary's statement is an an
swer to those who expect the con-
ference to 'disarm,' and shows that
the best that can be expected of it for
armament IS q limitation which will
lessen economic burdens and eliminate
the danger of competitive building
among nations.
In regard to ships provided for--most
of which are in fair way or COM
pletion-the speed of construction has
been greatly lessened by diminished
appropriations. The department is going
ahead as fast as it can with it's limited
funds. The work of construction is being
distributed among the vessels now under
way.
The decision 10 go ahead with build
ing. 1t is explained. does not express
lack of confidence in the accomplish
ment OF the arms conference. II merely
demonstrates that the conference is not
disarmament meeting.
Information received here from other
countries, notably Great Britain and
Japan, shows that these countries are
completing construction under way. and
In some instances authorizing new con-
struction. Neither these countries nor
the United States proposes to lead in
limiting ornaments until all are agreed
on the proportion OF arms to be stacked.
So far as the American Navy is con-
cerned. Mr. DENLY made 1t plain that
the building of aircraft carriers Is re-
garded as essential. This confirmed be-
lief is the result Of the recent bombing
tests, which demonstrated the new ef-
fectiveness which the airpiane is ac-
quiring in naval strategy.
The navy has not changed its be-
basic unit Of the feet. Naval officers
believe there has been much miscon-
ception on the views OF the Navy Gen
eral Board, owing to the debate precipi-
tated over the relative merits OF the
capital ship and aircraft.
Naval officials guiding the construc-
ton programme think the bombing tests
have demonstrated the Increased possi-
bilities of aircraft. No one has been
quicker to recognize this than the naval
group which retains its faith in the
capital ship. 1t is their belief that all
future naval operations will be carried
on with a large complement OF air craft
for bombing and for long distance gun
fire.
The navy is daily developing new pos
sibilities in long range guns and sees the
time when navics will fire at each other
over the horizon. making airplancs nec-
essary for range finding.
Airplane construction has net reached
the point where the heavier than air
craft can operate far from their base
and carriers are essential to transport
them with the fleet. Experiments are
being made also to have each war snip
carry it's own complement of aircraft
With the exception OF the converted arr
craft carrier Langley, the American
Navy is not equipped with carriers.
The determination to go ahead with
construction has in mind in part the
other elemental weakness of the navy
shortage of light fast cruisers. Any
limitation Of armament at this time
would find the American Navy lacking
In this important requisite.