Arizona republican., 1922-02-14
DENNY OPPOSES GUT IN
NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS
PLANNED BY CONGRESS
Secretary DENLY Says Limiting Appropriation
To $500, 100000 Will GiUe u. S. Ratio 2;
Japan 3, and Great Britain With Tonnage
Ratio Under Treaty Remaining $50

(Republiean A. p. Leased Wire)
WASHINGTON. Feb. 13 Secre-
tary DENLY in asking congress today
for an appropriation Of $3.50, ,0OO. 600
for the navy next year, ran into the
edge of a threatened fight by adj
vocates Of government economy 10
scrap the naval establishment ratio
figures arranged by the arms con-
ference
In frank and detailed statement
as TO what the navy department.
hoped to accomplish, Mr.. DENLY told
the house naval committee that his
estimate called for a reduction OF
lOOOO in enlisted personnel which
was made possible only by putting
about one hundred destroyers out OF
commission and by sharp cuts In
shore station forces. Chairman But-
Ter indicated that the figures named
by the secretary. compared with an
appropriation of SAP 900 600 for the
present fiscal year was high i'm view
OF reductions authorized by the con-
ference.
1t was brought out in the discussion
that some members OF congress be-
lleYed in urging a naval appropria-
ton bin carrying no more than sl75-
100000 or $500, 900 900, but Mr.. Denbv
agreed with the view expressed bv
members of the COMMITTEES that such
a reduction would put the United
states actually below Great Britain
and Japan, while leaving the TONNAGE
ratio at $3.50 as agreed to BY the
conference.
Relieving that with smaller fight
ing force the navy should be kent
ION its toes leaders standing behind
Secretary Denby's estimate. declared
that 20 limit the appropriation under
SzV0O0o,0OO would mean for the
United states q navy really smaller
than that OF Japan. They insisted
that instead OF SIS each for the
United States and Great Britain and
three for Japan. the standing would
be with the estimate SO widely
slashed a ratio OF Great Britain five.
United states two, and japan three.
Navy Undermined
MT Dandy told the committee to-
day the navy was undermanned and
that while he had been giving the
matter close study II was only yes
terday the idea occurred to him that
he could recommend an enlisted
strength OF 10000 or 10000 below the
authorized mark. by putting 100 de-
sroyers out OF commission. He
stood firm on his estimate. members
OF the committee declaring after
ward that they were inclined to ac-
cept it.
A leading Republican. however.
pointed out that consideration OF the
personnel question by the naval COM
mttee is more or less academic
FOR the reason that the appropria-
tions committee actually viii frame
the bin and fix the top figure for the
navy.
Secretary Denby's statement point
ed out that since 1919 the war time
naval establishment had been reduced
from 1852 vessels in commission to
300, the commissioned personnel from
S2,70S to 6l6S and the enlisted force
from 4S0,723 TO l0O,9ss.
1T is not easy he said. TO get
back TO normalcy from such vast ex-
pansion."
Great Britain Leads
Mr.. Denby said the net result OF
the naval limitation conference today
is that Great Britain is to have ~
capital ships, the United States is
and Japan 10, there being no limita-
ton on auxiliary combat craft except
as TO the size and armament.
When the conference opened, Mr..
DENLY said, the United States had As
battleships. 80 cruisers, 317 destroy
|tAe ITO HARAiAAAiltSs lot duAlilNiN
craft and l64 mosquito fleet" vessels.
by the terms of sthe treaty. he
said, "the United States will have
remaining is battleships, 33 cruisers.
Sl6 destroyers, 147 submarines, 1876
auxiharies and 152 small vessels 1t
is clear that no definite conclusion
as TO the future strength OF the
United states navy should be reached
until ratification by the senate OF
the pending treaty because we shall
not know absolutely until then that
the treaty will become effective. This
complcates the question OF per-
sonnel."
Mr.. DENLY described the status OF
the fleet in commission today. show
Ing that battleships carry about s4
per cent complement, destroyers from
80 TO so per cent and submarines
from 80 per cent up.
1T is quite clear that the navy in
enlisted and commissioned personnel
both is undermined, he said.
Chairman Butler wanted 20 know
il Mr. DENLY felt assured that war