Norwich bulletin., 1921-11-15
Naval Scrapping
 Would Be Costly [
Between $400, 100000 and $500, ,0OO,0 ,0OO Loss For the United States.

Washington, Nov. 14sE(By the A. P.) Actual cost to the United States of the scrapping of the present naval build ing program, naval officials estimated to- day, would be between s4400, DO 0, 900 and 0O,000, 900, exclusive of any salvage pla nthat might reduce this total. In his statement to the conference on limi- tation of armament Saturday, presenting the American proposal, Secretary Hughes sad the work already done had cost s33O,00o,000 but these figures do not in- ciude costs incident to abandonment of the ships under construction.
 Assistant Secretary Roosevelt said to- day that the American program would save the government about $2O0, ,0OO, 900 in naval expenditures. The figure is tie difference between the total cost of com pletion Of tnu snl9s aJout $500, ,00O, ,00, and what 'scrapping them all would cost. Included in the scrapping costs are al- iowances for. reimbursement of contract ors for work they have been compelled to do in their yards in preparation for the huge craft to be built
 There is no intention on the part of the government to stop work on the new ships until an agreement actually is reached by the conference and ratified by the governments involved. That was made plain today. Construction on the great majority of the vessels is proceed. ing very slowly, however, the division oi available building funds averaging about $2,00G,00O a year per capital ship in yolved. The only ships upon which wori has been brought to a complete stand | still, pending developments in Washing ton, are the two at the New York navl | lyard. Stoppage there. it was said, doe! I Dn inv nI,,tN ,F for breach of contract.
 | In case, it was added, expenditure! | now in progress on ships that may with | in few weeks. perhaps days, be ordered | scrapped are of such a nature that thel could not be saved in any case.
 The bulk of the S2,O0o,000 a year fol each ship is for materials ordered anc which would have to be paid for in an, case. Only in one or two cases is ther
 large labor force at work on actua building of the ships.
 1 One phase of the programme naval of i ficers have been struck with, is it
 probable effect on the three great ship | building plants doing most of the nev 1 ship construction for the government Those plants it was said. today, were en | gagged almost entirely on government
 work and on these ships which would b
 scrapped under the plan. All three. l
 was predicted, would in all probabilit
 be forced to close down They are tn
 plants of the New York Shipbuilding com
 pany the Fore Rover (Mass.) compan, and the Newport News Company.
 It was very evident that naval of ficers quite generally expected Hughe. program would be accepted with onl
 minor notifications. There was som
 surprise indicated that the British dele
 gation had net announced acceptance in rnediately when the plan was presented
 leaving to a later time such adjustmer
 of details as might seem desirable. Tn l notifications which Mir. Balfour, headin
 the British groupf Ill submit tomorrow
 It was said, apparently could have bee
 worked out afterward, as well as befol
 a general agreement.