Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-14
TR|CKERY, DENLY
SAYS Of NAVY CUT.
Ready to Scrap With House
Leaders on Economy
Program
RESISTS FURTHER SLASHING
81 q Sin1 Correspondent

washington. March H. bcncath inc
surface Of official amenities Secretary
Of the Navy DENLY and certain Kornh-
licnn leaders in Congress are at the
point Of combat over congressional pro-
pcsals to "cut the navy TO the bone.
House leaders. planning for treaty
navy" we'll within the authorizations
Of the naval treaty born Of the Armn-
msht Conference, have agreed tcnta-
lively on reductions in shns ana per-
sonnel far exceeding any idcns held by
Mr.. DENLY. 1IostiIi'ies are threatened
between the legislative and executive
branches Of the Government as re-
suit.
Secretary Dcnby. rs the latest de-
vclopmont in the controversy. is charg-
ing privately he has been tricked Into
apparent but unntcndcd agreement with
House leaders who arc handling III"
1928 Naval Appropriation Bill and say.
ing he docs not ncrc" with them nj all
This particular charge grows ont OF
nm inquiry submitted to DENLY by rnem-
bers Of the House Appropriations Com
riittec.
Outlining a treaty navy" consist.
ing Of eighteen hattIcships. lO' do.
s,royers-Gve for every three possessed
by Japan. thus maintaining the h-I-H
ratio-and eighty four submarines. the
number now in commission in the
American Navy. and which slightly ex-
ceeds the 5-5.3 ratio. the House COM
nittee asked Secretary DENLY To in
/ clule with these vessels all necessary
auxliaries and estimate the number Of
men required to man them.
Denby Set $4,000 Men as Basis
Secretary DENLY estimated they could
he manned with 5000 men. That
figure was thereupon adopted by Re-
publican members Of tho Appropriations
Committee as basis for their cal"ula-
tions. and that started all tho troN!bIo.
Secretary DENLY now contends the
House leaders arc planning to strip tho
navy of vessels and men sor"ly needed
. to maintain the navy nj thc maximum
strength permitted under n" naval
treaty. He explains that the $1,000
/ men estimated nc minimum require. Z.
ment for a fighting feet do not begin
TO cover the total requirements Of the
naval cstablishmcns, even excluding
shore personnel.
Nevertheless. House leaders have
gone ahead with their plans. and pro
pose to report n bill providing for a
feet personnel Of 30. 900 enlisted men
aad shore personnel of $4,000. making
n total Of Gj.OOO. and representing a
reduction Of 20. 900 from the existing
strength Of 5000 men OH scn and
shore. In addition. the marine corps
may be cut 5000. resulting in n total
reduction Of dJ.00n from present levels.
To reduce thn navy personnel to this
extent would ucccssitate tho scrappinc
Of all submarine chasers. more thar
two.thirds Of the dostrOycrs. all OF th'
old cruisers and other anxilarics nov
in commission. but actually. or. 50
House leaders contend. Of no value il
time of war. At tho Capitol it is, in
sisted the Navy Department would still
have enough mon to man tho fichtn:
feet.
Budgets Must BE Cut
Lower appropriations are the de~i'iCr
atum sought by Congress in "cntrm
Mating these cuts in the naval cEtab
lishmcnts.
Whereas, the Naval Appropriation
Bill for the current fiscal year carrie.
a total Of $40 900 .00n. House leaders
declare the new bill. to finance tho navy
for the fiscal year beginning July
next. will carry appropriations nor c1'
cceding 5000. .000. 900. and prohahl!
nearer $l75.00O,OoO or even $lIo,
O00. 900.
OF the s4lO. 600. 600 made available
for tho present year. 500 600. 600 wa
for nov construction. md of tho latte
amount, about $50 .0O0,0 90 still is avail
ablo for this purpose. II is estimate
the remaining appropriation charged +
construction will be sufficient 10 com
plete the battlc cruisers and other Graf
vet to be completed under tho terms o
tho naval treaty. so only ih" main
tenance Of the naval establishment vii
have TO he takon into consideration II
framing the appropriation bill for ncX
year.
Ey cutting the personnel almost il
half. tying up scores of supert'uous q
obsnlcsccnt vessels in navy yards NM
selling or srrapping others. Legislative
experts believe it will be pnsSibI" to cu
off another S1J0 600 0Oo from tho nnva
budget.
All this has famed the indignation "
the old "snltS' of tho navy and Of thci
chief, tie present Secretary. NnvaI "th
ccrs. chcrishing tradition, demand tn
"ightincst' navy in the world, an'
Dpnhy is standing by his men.
But at the Capitol they are sayint
the navy Will have to conform TO ~
new order ushorod in hv tho \rmnmcn
Conference and accept tho inevitable.