The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-05-03
NAVY DROPS PLAN
TO ELEVATE GUNS
DENLY Announces That $780,
600 Grant Won't Be Used Till
Congress Gives Order.
HOLDS CHANGE PERMISSIBLE
But a New Program, Detached From
Britain's Course. Is Expected to
Be Uroed-unintended Erroneous
Statements Reason.

Washington. Thu appropriation
made by Congress at the last session
for elevating the guns of the Ameri-
can fleet will not be used for tina
purpose, Secretary DENLY announced,
because OF the unattended erroneous
statements made by navy representa-
tives in recommending the a%ppropria-
ton.
The secretary intimated that the
department would go before the next
Congress with a new program In or
der that the record might be kept
straight. He said this course had the
approval Of President Harding.
The following statement was issued
by the Navy Department:
During the discussion at the last
Congress of the proposal to appropri-
ate Sc, 800, 900 for elevating the guns
Of thirteen ~battleshils of the United
States fleet, certain statements were
made in regard to the disparity be-
tween the ranges of guns ofsthe ships
of the British feet and those of the
fleet of the United States. These
statements were made IN absolute
good faith, but were shown by later
reports from the government of Great
Britain to have been exaggerated.
While the disparity does exist, 1t is
not so great as was then supposed.
Upon the representations of the
Navy Department, Congress appro-
priated the sum asked for. In view
of the discrepancy in the statement
Of the department and the actual con-
ditions the department has deter
mined not to employ the money ap-
priated for the purpose OF increasing
the elevation of the guns Of the
American fleet until further directed
to do so by Congress"
Decision tt abandon temporarily the
departments modernization program
was declared by navy officials to have
been based entirely upon the desire
to 'set the navy right" in the eyes Of
Congress and of the country, and to
have no bearing upon implied protest
of Great Britain or upon any contro-
verified Interpretation OF the Washing
ton Arms Conference Treaty.
Secretary DENLY and his STAFF were
said still to hold the unanimous opin-
ion that the program is wholly within
the treaty provisions and in the final
analysis, necessary for the mainte-
nance of the naval ratio and for the
protection of national interests by the
creation of an adequate sea force. 1t
was determined, however, after care
full consideration of the many factors
involved, that the necessity for the
change did not represent an emer-
gency which would justify the navy
in going forward with funds procured
| through Misrepresentation, however
innocent.
Decision of the Navy Department
was reached after extended confer
ences between Navy and State De-
partment officials and consultation
with President Harding.
Mr.. DENLY had a conference with
Secretary Hughes, who within the
last few days has also talked over
some aspects Of the question with
Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman. The
admiral, 1t is understood, has given
1t as his opinion that there is no such
vital disparity between the elevation
of our guns and those of other ma
tons as to necessitate giving higher
angle fire at this time.
Oficials of the Navy Department
are convinced that there is nothing
in the naval treaty negotiated at the
arms conference to forbid elevating
the guns on the older battleships.
Some members Of Congress have
been insistent that there was no JUS
LITIGATION under treaty rights for the
expenditure of the money appropri-
ated, and a number of protests have
been fled with the Navy Department.
WOMEN EOR SUGAR BOYCOTT