The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-11
DENNY REQUESTS.
NEW CRUISERS
(Continued From Page one)

field continued, that the British
admiralty has stated officially that
by their Interpretation of the treaty
it would be Illegal for US to change
the elevations as proposed. NO such
contention has ever been put for
ward by the British admiralty, Brit
ish government, or by any other Of
fetal in any government signatory
to the treaty.
1.-THE general intent of the treaty
was to grant to each power run rign'
to keep step with material and sclen-
tific progress, subject only to specific
limitations Nowhere is there TO be
found a spirit of the treaty which
contravenes this right"
In addition to elevation of the main
turrets, the departments program IN
cludes the installation of deck sheat-
Ing as an additional defense against
air attack; addition of "blisters" as
defense against torpedoes ana the
conversion of six coal burning battle
ships to oil burners.
Money For Submarines.
The approved budget of the navy
now includes s2,S50,000 for beginning
construction of three submarines au-
thorized in the 1916 naval act, MI.
DENLY said, but he called attention
to the lack of the navy in cruisers,
submarines and river gunboats.
present does not equal in cruiser
strength either of the other two pow
ers sgnatory to the treaty. he said,
nor is the fleet to be considered as
in any way balanced through lack of
this vital arm. The disparity be-
tween the cruiser strength of Great
Britain and that of the United States
is so great that we can not hope for
many years to bring about anything
approaching equality with that power.
"The navy of the United States is
so Unbalanced and so deficient in
cruiser strength that it would be put
at a serious disadvantage in major
operations of any kind. The power
of cruisers in offense and in defense
is a primary factor in naval strategy
Other than the 10 big cruisers. some
of which are authorized under the
1915 building program, some of which
are now completed and others rapidly
nearing completion, We are without
real cruiser strength. Vessels still in
service of the type of the Pittsburg.
Denver, and Salem are useful for
peace work but would be practically
without value in time of war. The
raiders that drive our commerce from
the sea, that attack our transports
and supply ships, can never be over
taken unless we build cruisers to do
the work. Therefore, as a measure
looking toward the ultimate provi-
sion of the fleet and equalization
with other powers, I strongly secom-
mend the authorization and appro-
priation of funds sufficient to COM
mence construction of eight 10000
ton cruisers.
"A large submarine tonnage is
being laid down abroad. At present
Al submarines are building or pro-
jected by a single power; 23 of these
are over 1000 tons; that is, they are
vessels capable of long distance
cruising. In addition to the Al men
toned, II were completed in 1922 and
1928 by this same power. If pres
emit foreign programs are completed
without any additions, the United
States would have to build $4,000
tons of submarines in order to at
tain treaty ratios. The United States
has no cruiser and no mine laying
submarines. Both types demonstrated
their great usefulness in the World
war. In order TO supply in part our
deficiency in these types and In or
der to begin to attain a suitable re-
lative submarine strength, recon-
mend the authorization and appro-
priation of funds sufficient to COM
mence construction of three subma-
rines of the cruiser type.
O o O
Wants Six Gunboats.
81 recommend also that Congress
authorize six gunboats of suitable
type and size and make appropriation
for their complete construction as
early as possible"
Announcing that the department
would submit to Congress five
year program for naval aviation, the
Secretary declared the present situa-
ton in that branch, both as to per-
sonnet and equipment was one to be
viewed with concern" Only IL ava
tors were added to the roll during the
past year, he said, and the equipment
is practically obsolete. He listed the
records of naval aviators. estab-
lished during the year, as comprising
% of the AZ recognized by leading
nations.
OF the total of s7.67s,ooo in the
budget for naval base development
during 1925, s2,o62.o00 is allotted
to Pearl Harbor. $47o,000 to- san
Francisco, ss2S,00o to Puget Sound.
sett Ray area, s165.Goo to Chesapeake
Bay. 1925, 900 to San Diego. $261,ooo
to Boston, 100000 to Key West and
$500. 900 to Cavite. Out of total
If $500. 900 for air base development,
the approved budget allots the Coco
Solo station s554,000 and Pearl Har-
Dor s266,000.
Onerations of the navy during the
mast year have been more widespread
than in almost any other OF It's MS
tory. the Secretary said, and "on the
whole reflects credit to the service. ,
at was not to be expected, ne
added. that so great service so lar
flung and so frequently engaged IN
hazardous undertakings snoulo nave
escaped some disaster. The outstaho-
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