Evening star., 1922-04-09
Reported Measure
j Carries a Total
of $233, ,224,OOO.
S35 CADETS LOSE
THEIR COMMISSIONS
Lays Up 254 Ships-De'
stroyers Cut Down
to lO3.

By the Associated Press.
The 1928 naval bill, carrying out
the 5~5-3 ratio was reported yes
ferday to the House.
1t carries a total of $233.224.o00. or
s1s1, ,ooo, 900 less than appropriated
last year. There remains to be ap-
propriated in q separate measure
later, however, about $6o.0oo.ooo, es-
4imated by the Navy Department as
the cost Of cancellation of contracts
for ships not completed and ordered
scrapped.
Summary Of Bill.
! Briefly, this is what the bill does:
Cuts the enlisted personnel from
$4,000 to IS 1000, plus 1000 apprentices.
Leaves officer total substantially in
tact, except for the dropping of 3ss
reserve officers on active duty.
Authorizes commissions for only
200 of the 535 flrst-class men at An
napolis. to be graduated in June.
Lays up 254 vessels "of nondescript
character"
Destroyers Reduced to 103.
Eighteen battleships are allotted the
In rounding out a fleet the bill re-
duces the number of destroyers in
commission from 27s to 103; au-
thorizes 81 submarines. all the
cruisers. and lighter auxiliary craft.
Out of the $1,000 enlisted personnel
1t provides $4,000 for ships afioat
Provides for the same number of
officers in Marine Corps and 1880
enlisted men, a reduction of less than
1000. This number, the Navy ad-
vised the committee, will be cut to
1890. with the withdrawal in the
next year of 1000 marines from
sSanto Dominge..ewho will not re-
enlist.
Explains Bill's Prsvisions.
Representative Kelley Of Michigan.
chairman Of the subcommittee of ap-
propriations. which framed and re-
ported the bill, made public with the
bill the following statement. explain
ing its provisions:
THE bill reported to the House to-
day carries an appropriation for
the coming fiscal year of $233,224,000.
This amount Is $1s3, 900, 900 less than
the naval estimates and $1s1, 100000
less than tho sum carried in last
years bill. 1t has been possible to
make these heavy reductions without
disturbing the 5-5-3 ratio established
by the treaty.
Three important reasons form the
basis Of this great reduction.
First. because of agreements
reached by the conference on the lin
itation of armaments stopping all
work on fourteen capital ships under
construction and providing for the
scrapping Of fifteen other capital
ships of the predreadnought type.
Second. by laying up surplus de-
stroyers built during the war for con-
voy purposes and not required in con-
nection with tho eighteen battleship
feet allowed under tho treaty.
1 Eliminates 254 Nendeseripts.
Third, by eliminating from the list
Of naval vessels to be kept in COM
EMISSION some 254 vessels of a monde
script character of little or no mil
atary value. including eagle boats,
eubchasers, tugs. yachts, motor boats
and miscellaneous craft OF small ton
mage by tho score.
IF all Of these hundreds Of small
vessels. built or picked up during the
war to meet a special need. are to be
retained in tho service and kept in
full commission tens Of millions of
dollars Will be required for their
maintenance. repairs and personnel,
No greater service can be performed
for the Navy at this time than to cut
out all this vast accumulation Of dead
wood. It does not contribute a feath-
hrs weight to the national defense.
In fact, It constitutes q millstone
around the neck Of tho Navy.
Personnel Termed Sufficient.
we are providing in this bill sum-
cient personnel to keep in full COM
mission 1o3 destroyers, or all that the
Navy Department requested to be
kept in full commission. The balance
Of the destroyers are q military asset
of great value. They are to be put
out Of commission. but kept in first
e.sss condition. This policy will save
tho enormous expense Of personnel.
fuel oil, repairs and upkeep of this
great feet Of surplus vessels.
Under tho terms Of tho treaty the
United States Is to retain eighteen
battleships. Tho appropriation car
eied in this bill II sufficient to pro-
vide personnel for keeping all Of these
battleships in full commission. with
hs large q complement Of men on
board as has been carried in recent
months. together with 100 dsstroyers,
"a submarines. all our available eruis-
ers, necessary oilers, tenders. airplane
carriers. ammunition ships. oolliers,
storeships and every other auxiliary
required to make the eighteen capital
ship fleet complete, well rounded out
and properly manned and ofncered.
In Line with Conference.
I'm short, the bill seeks to give ef-
feet to all reductions made possible
by the work Of the conference and at
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