The New York herald., 1922-02-14
DENLY SUBMITS CUT
OF 10000 IN NAVY
Secretary. Asking for $780,
100000. Meets Question of
Further Reduction.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 13. - Secretary
DENLY, in asking Congress to-day for
an appropriation of s35O.O00. 900 for the
navy next year. ran into the edge OF
threatened fight by advocates of Gov
ernment economy to scrap" the navak
establishment below the ratio figure
fixed by the arms conference.
Mr.. DENLY told the House Naval Com
mittee his estimate called for reduction
of 10000 in enlisted personnel which
was made possible only by putting about
100 destroyers out of commission and
by sharp cuts in shore station forces.
Chairman Butler indicated that the
figure named by the Secretary, compared
with an appropriation of s412.000.0 for
the present fiscal year was high. in view
OF reductions authorized by the confer
ence.
1t was brought out in the discussion
that some members OF Congress had
been urging a naval appropriation bill
carrying no more than s175. 5.000.000 or
$500. 100000. but Mr. DENLY agreed with
the view expressed by members of the
committee that such a reduction would
put the United States actually below Great
Britain and Japan. while leaving the
tonnage ratio at five-five- three, as
agreed co by the conference. .
Indications of considerable opposition
to the recommendation for n $3.50. .000.-
900 appropriation. about $40. 900. 900 OF
which would go for building. developed
during the Informal discussion OF the
naval program between Mr.. DENLY and
members of the committee.
Representative McClintic. Democrat
tOkla.). told the Secretary reports were
current that Congress was preparing to
cut the appropriation 10 s150.000. 900 or
$500, ,000. 900.
Il am big navy man myself" said
Representative Macarthur. Republican
| tOre.), but from what ! gather an at
tempt will be made in Congress to cut
the figure to s15o.0oo.0oo. How it can
be done cannot say"
Chairman Butler wanted to know If
Mr.. DENLY felt assured that war was
less probable as q result of the arms
! conference.
I 81 am absolutely certain OF it," the
| Secretary replied. but until other ma
( tions have reduced their armament we
! ought not to go about X too rapidly. In
other words the treaty should be ratified
| first
/ Secretary Denbys statement pointed
out that since 1919 the war time naval
establishment had been reduced from
l.362 vessels in commission to 9o0 the
commissioned personnel from 81. 20S to
! 6.l63 and the enlisted force from $50. 723
! to 100 999.
1T Is not easy he said. Ito get back
10 normalcy from such vast expansion" !"
Mr.. DENLY said the net result of the
naval limitation conference to-day was
that Great Britain would have twenty
! two capital ships. the United States
eighteen and Japan ten. there being
go limitation on auxiliary combat craft
except as to the size and armament of
! future vessels.
/ When the conference opened. Mr.
/ Denby said. the United States had 46
battleships. 50 cruisers. 317 destroyers.
14S submarines. 1877 auxiliary craft and
164 mosquito fleet vessels.
by the terms of the treaty" he said.
"the United States will have remaining
IS battleships. 3l6 destroyers. 80 cruisers.
1i7 submarines, 1876 auxliaries and 10.
small vessels"
Mr.. DENLY said that by placing 10f
! destroyers out of commission he would
release 6.400 enlisted men and effect a
saving of $l3.f00.000. An additional 500
enlisted men could be cut off. he added
| in contemplated economies at shore
| stations.