The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-02-14
PROPOSE CUT BE
MADE In AMOUNT
ASKED BY DENLY
Secretary Tells House Commit
tee That His Estimate Calls
for Big Reduction.
MOST OF OPPOSITION
COMES FROM THE WEST
Representative Mondell, Repub-
lican Leader, Listed as Be
ing Willing to the Cut.
fny The AssoeIated Preesl

WASHINGTON. Feb. 13.-Secretary
DENLY, IN asking congress today for an
appropriation of $350,000, 600 for the
navy next year, ran into the edge of
threatened fight by advocates of gov
ernment economy to SCRAP" the ma
val establishment below the ratio fig
ure fixed by the arms conference.
In a 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 ten thousand
in enlisted personnel, which was made
possible only by putting one hundred
destroyers out OF commission and by
sharp cuts in shore station forces.
Chairman Butler indicated that the
figure named by the secretary COM
pared with an appropriation Of s412,
100000 for the present fiscal year was
high, In view OF reductions authorized
by the conference.
1t was brought out In the discussion
that some members OF congress have
been urging a naval appropriation bill
carrying no more than s175,000,000 or
5000 ,O00, 900, but Mr.. DENLY agreed
with the view expressed by members
OF the committee that such a reduction
would put the United States actually
below Great Britain and Japan, while
leaving the tonnage ratio at 5-5-S as
agreed TO by the conference.
Believing that with a smaller fight
ing force the navy should be kept on
its toes leaders standing behind Sec
retary Denby's estimate declared to
limit the appropriation under 100000, i
900 would mean for the United States
a navy really smaller than Japan. They
insisted that instead of 5-5 each for
the United States and Great Britain
and for Japan, the standing would be
with the estimate so widely siashed, a.
ratio or Great Britain S; United States
2 and Japan 3.
Mr.. DENLY told the committee the
navy today was undermanned 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
5000 or 10000 below the authorized
mark by putting one hundred destroy
ers out of commission. He stood firm
on hts estimate, members OF the COM
nnittee declaring afterward that they
were inclined TO accept IT,
A leading republican, however,
pointed out that consideration OF the
personnel question by the naval COM
nnittee is more or less academic" for
the reason that the appropriation COM
rnittee actually will frame the bill and
fix the top figure for the navy. Chair
man Kelley. OF the subcommittee on
naval appropriations. who Is out Of the
city, is known to believe in the most
drastic cut possible. and mono of his
committee colleagues 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 siashing the DENLY
estimate In half" and the other insist
ing that there should be mo- extensive
drop below the naval treaty status.
In opposing any reduction in the line
officer personnel, the naval secretary
also recommended that the first class
at the naval academy be graduated
and commissioned, leaving the status
OF other classes to be determined by
congress.
Most of the opposition in the house
to "a one hundred per cent navy was
reported to exist from among members
.erom the middle west and plains states.
Representative Mondell, OF Wyoming.
the republican leader, has been listed
among those ready to fight to cut tho
navy to tho bone. While members or
the appropriation subcommittee, which
win fix the navy's total, We're unwilling
80 be quoted. some OF them intimated
that 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 complete complement OF officers
ana men.