The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-02-20
NOT ONE DOLLAR BE
SPENT FOR UPKEEP
OF OLD MEN-0F-WAR
Congress Will Make No Appro-
priations for Vessels Worth
less for National Defense.
FIRST CLASS AT NAVAL
. ACADEMY WILL BE CUT
BY Junking Useless Ships, Large
Amount Will Be Saved From
Secretary Denby's Estimate
(ey lac AssoeIated Press

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Congress
will not spend 81 for the upkeep next
year of old warships that are unable
to contribute to national defense,
Chairman Kelley of the house sub
committee on appropriations, which
will frame the new navy bill, an
nouneed today.
Opposing the appropriation Of $780,
100000 asked for by Secretary DENLY,
Chairman Kelley declined to indicate
how much might be cut from the sec
retary's estimate by carrying out his
program of 'junking worthless yes
sells 1t was intimated by the chair
mans associates, however, that the
figure would be reduced to $4,000, 900,
or possibly $2OO,OoO,OOO.
81 believe congress will be willing
to furnish the necessary men and
money for that part of the navy which
has a military value,' Mr. Kelley de-
clared. But there are scores of ships
costing millions every year which are
worthless. / am not going to vote to
keep these old ships in commission,
nor will congress, unless it can be
shown that they can contribute to our
national defense
Asked how he stood on the question
of turning the $40 members of the
first class at Annapolis back to civil
life in June, Mr.. Kelley said:
1T may be hard but the first class
will not be commissioned. We will
have to be conservative in cutting the
officer personnel, and in this emergen-
cy we cannot swap men for boys.
Some of the first class may be taken
in to give a sprinkling of fresh life
and energy, but with the wholesale
reductions necessary the class will
have to GO It's members have received
a fine education. they are ready for
the struggle of life, and their loss. VIII
be more sentimental than financial
The impression was gained from
the chairman that he believes a larger
number of destroyers could be laid up
than the 100 mentioned by Secretary
DENLY.
'"The old rule called for four de-
SIToyeIS .IOI GdCIl UdIAlcSttIps ne S6lu.
I'VE are to have IS battleships, and
by applying this rule we might get
along with 70 destroyers in active
commission"
This was the number mentioned
last week by Chairman Butler of the
navy committee as sufficient, in his
opinion.
AN enormous saving can be effect
ed in junking old and worthless ships,
especially some of the older cruisers" +"
said Mr.. Kelley. "Take the old Olym-
pia, forrexample, last year the cost of
her operation was s1.179,000. There
is a fine sentimental demand to save
her, but she ought to be put some
place where there will be no such tax
burden. The old cruiser Brooklyn,
commissioned in 1895, cost $790,0o0 last
year, and the Rochester, commissioned
in 1893, cost $1,154,00e.
"Just go on down the line and you
will find other old hulks costing mil
lions of dollars that are not worth a
tinker's dam for defense purposes.
These old crafts with small guns are
back numbers; they can serve no use
full training purposes. We have got
to tie them up
Mr. Kelley said however, he wanted
to emphasize that there would be no
ruthless cutting Of appropriations and
that new ships which really make up
the treaty navy would be kept in full
commission. The enlisted personnel
total would depend, he said, upon the
number of ancient ships relegated 10
the junk pile.
There will be no new construction
next year" Mr.. Kelley said, "but s4O,-
100000 will be needed to complete
ships allotted by the treaty.