New-York tribune., 1922-03-23
House Bill Cuts
Navy to 10000
Hardi1lg's Plan,
Naval Affairs Committee
Reports Ont Measure OPP
posed to Dirt site Cut in
Appropriations Proposal
Against Two Small Fleets
Reduction in Commissioned
Officers Is Left to the
Discretion Of President
r~..n -. ,.rtIc,r..s Tgssb1,,,.os s,.r>.,

.S
From The sribsxe's Teshfs7.oa s,:r<1p
WASHINGTON. Marcn 2e.--Frst
blood in TIE impending Gght On the
Size OF the peace-tisnc navy wss drawn
to-day by the House Naval Affairs Com
snittee, wnieh reported fsvorably
bill carrying Legislation designed TO
educe the American sea forces 20 the
point of greatest economy plus highest
onfciency The measure. which Is
framed as { companion Bill fer the ap
profriatioa bill sooa 20 be brought out,
would provide for ar enlisted personnel
Of $4,000, the lowest figure given Presi-
Dental approval. l. this it takes sharp
issue with Charm al Meddea's appro-
pr.ation committee, Tie majority oi
which ore declared 70 sc committed 70
Il cut Of about 65.0o0.
VITA the once aN-powerful Naval
Affairs Committee siding with the
President the odds are NOW generally
believed to be somewhat ii Iatoy c
lis figure as the ore which viii deter-
raine the potential lighting power c.
the navy. The House itself .s widely
split on the question, bat when It coIces
70 q matter OF votes there il strong
probability that many loembers on tne
Republican side viii 80 against the
Appropriations Committee, especially
n consideration of the White House
lew reiterated yesterday thsf their
plan would throw completely out OF
ioint the international naval ratio Of
agreement
Harding Opposes Drastic Cot
The Executives attitude as enpha-
e;zed yesterday is that the proposed
cut to G5 900 would faunt the national
security and is unwarranteai from
every standpoint. He feels that so
drastic q cut is rot justifed by the
ccuntry's reaction and would vfew such
action by Congress with the keenest
disappointment.
If the cuts proposed by the House
Appropriations Committee au put into
effect twelve battleships ana proper
fionate number OF auxiliary ships would
constitute the American navy, i'll the
opinion o responsible aeval autho-i-
lies.
The laying up OF six Of the eighteen
capital ships provided by the naval
treaty, il is pointed out, Mould neces-
of the feet IN the Pacific, as naval
experts declare that il wa&d De iul-
rossible to carry out training ard tao
fi~al maneuvers with fleets consisting
Of ouch small number SIS six battle
ships. Then, too, they say tne cost OF
operating two fleets OF this size in
stead Of one feet would De excessive.
There are adequate shore facilities oh
either coast TO care +or tie nun:br OF
ships in the united fleet.
As the fleets are now composed. the
Kew vessels arc in the Pacific. All the
oil-burning battleships ara on the west
coast, due to the saving in fuel oil
there. The older vessels of the coal
burning type are in the Atlantic, and
IS is these which would be placed out
Of commission first. Then, too, il is
OF the United States are in the Paci
&c, and constant communication with
fiuam, Hawaii and the Philippines can
lcnly be made possible by the major
heet being located On ahe west coast.
Shore Station savhEs in East
with the proposed reduction IN
naval appropriations it. may be neces-
sary to abandon or reduce the force in
shore stations, and IL ia probable that
only the Norfolk base will be retained
ON the Atlantic coast. With the feet
concentrated in the Pacific the navy
may feel justified in renining the navy
n yards at Bremerton asd Mare Island
and the naval station al San Diego, and
n lhus make all the shoGe station saw
@ngs on the Atlantic.
The Naval Affairs Obmrittee's bill
provides that the total authorized en-
listed strength Of the active list Of the
regular navy ehaN OF July 1, 1922, be
reduced from 1885. plus 6,00o sp-
len, plus 5000 apprentice eeamen.
The reduction IN tse commissioned
oGicers, however, would rot De made
effective until July !, 1924. Afscr that
late their number is not TO exceed
3,440. The present number is given SIS
5,55i. In accomplishing this reduction
rhe bill p DIVIDES that any cosamis-
sioned or warrant officer OF the active
list OF the line or staff ".nay. prior TO
July !, 1924, without regard 70 length
of prior naval service, upon his own
.equest, in the discraS on OF the Presi-
dent, be retired from active duty on t
percentage OF pay equal TO 213 per
centum OF his sh2e duty pay for
each year of navaI service, provided
that the total retired pay shall rot cx-
ceed 70 per centum of the shore duty
pay he was entitled TO receive while
on the active list"
President to Fsx Retirement
The excess numtser in each rank is
30 be determined lsoc later than June
J, 1924. by the Secretary Of the Navy
The method OF determining when men
are to be retired r. left to the presi-
uent.
In dealing with the United States
Naval Academy tfe bill provides that
appointments TO the class entering
after March !. 1928, shall be IN such a
ratio as may be determined By The Sec
yetary OF the Navy. with 8 view TO
ultimately allowing only one midship-
man to each Senator, Representative
and delegate.
In graduating the Classes only those
members OF the ck.sses selected By the
academic board ot the academy would
Ill the number u vacancies existing
in the grade Of seicn. is determined
previously by tlp Secretary CT the
Navy HAN, bera ~ rno rre ir,a$s-o