Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-02-14
COTTON Mill STRIKES AFFECT
$4,000 IN new ENGLAND
Believe Navy
Head ASKING
Too Much

Washington, Feb. 13.-Secretary
DENLY, in asking Congress today for
an appropriation of $3.50, 600. 900 for
the navy next year, ran into the edge
of a threatened fight by advocates
of government economy to scrap"
the naval establishment below the
ratio figure fixed by the arms con-
ference
In q 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 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 But
Ter indicated that the figures named
by the secretary, compared with an
appropriation of s4l2,OO0.OOO for the
present fiscal year, were high, in
view of reductions authorized by the
conference.
1t was brought out in the discus
sion that some members of Congress
have been urging a naval appropria-
ton bill carrying no more than
S17o, OOo.0 600 or $500, 100000, but Mr..
DENLY agreed with the view ex-
pressed by members of the commit
tee that such a reduction would put
the United States actually below
Great Britain and Japan, while leav-
ing the tonnage ratio at fiVe-fve-
three, as agreed to by the confer
ence.
Believing that with a smaller
fighting force the navy should be
kept ION its toes" leaders standing
behind Secretary Denby's estimate,
declared that to limit the appropria
ton under S20O000. 600 would mean
for the United States a navy really
smaller than that of Japan. They
insisted that instead of five-five
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.
Mr.. DENLY told the committee the
navy today was undetermined and
that. while he had been giving the
question the closest study, it was
only yesterday the idea occurred to
him that he could recommend an
enlisted strength of 10000. or 10000
below the authorized mark. by put
sion. He stood firm on his estimate.
members of the committee declar-
ing afterward that they were inclined
TO accept it.
A leading Republican. however,
pointed out that consideration of the
personnel question by the naval
committee is more or less academic,
for the reason that the appropria-
tions committee actually will frame
the bill and fix the top figure for
the navy. Chairman Kelley, of the
sub committee on naval appropria-
tons, who is out out of the city, is
known to believe in the most drastic
cut possible and none of his col
leagues was prepared to say how far
the chairman would be willing to
go toward meeting Mr.. DENLY.
Members generally appeared to be
divided, however. into two camps.
one standing out for slashing the
DENLY estimate" and the other in
sisting there should be no extensive
ct
In opposing any reduction in the
line officer personnel. the navy sec
rotary also recommended that the
first class at the naval academy be
graduated and commissioned, leav-
ing the status of other classes to be
determined by Congress.
Most of the opposition in the
House to "a 100 per cent navy was
reported to exist among members
from the Middle West and Plains
states. Representative Mondell. OF
Wyoming. the Republican leader,
has been listed among those ready
to fight to cut the navy to the bone.
While members of the appropria-
subcommittee. which will fix the
navy'S total. were unwilling to be
quoted" some o: them intimated
they had been impressed by the
navy view that the only way TO keep
the ratio of the three biggest naval
powers at the figures set by the arms
conference was by giving every ship
it's capital complement of officers
and men.
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