The Colorado statesman., 1923-09-08

which may be advisable In party poli
tical matters, as 1t Is in public service.
Navys Shore Program.
Calling for an expenditure of $780,
$4,000. spread over a period of 20
years, concrete program for develop
nent of the shore establishment of tbe
United Slater navy. formulated by a
special board and approved by Acting
Secretary Roosevelt, is now ready for
submission to congress.
The Immediate outlay, to be iIclud-
ed in the budget this year, is $7,616,-
300. to be followed by slightly larger
annual appropriations during the next
10 years. The estimate for this year
includes $176,300 for essential repair
work in the Philippines, Guam and
Samoa, where, und~" the treaty lin-
/ itations, no new elelopment can Le
undertaken.
OF the total of more than seven mil
| lion recommended for inclusion in the
| budget this year, more than one-fourth
| S2,O62,0O0, is for developing the base
in the Hawaiian islands. the most
pressing and vital naval need. accord
ing to all naval strategists, that con-
fronts the United States.
The other principal items are San
Diego naval base, $1,295,000 Puget
sound, $S2S,000; New York Narragan-
sett bay, $75S.2OO; San Francisco bay,
$4,000; Quantico (Marines), $340,-
600; Boston-P Portsmouth, $261 900;
/ III,
bay. $1Sj,000; Canal Zone, $250000;
Great Lakes training station, $1400O0;
Key West, Fla. 100000. and Charles
| ton, $4,000.
For Naval Air Stations.
Development of naval air stations,
outlined in a supplementary report
and approved by the department.
calls for total additional expenditure
of S16,45S,S35, to be provided in equal
annual appropriations during the next
20 years. For the budget this year an
estimated appropriation of $500 900
will be needed to be augmented by the
amounts necessary to purchase four
air stations-Sand Point. Wash.
Lakehurst, n. j.; Chatham, Mass, and
the Marine flying field at Quantico,
provided legislative authority for their
acquisition is secured from congress.
Carrying out of this program. naval
authorities say, will give the United
States system of naval bases well
equipped for the peace-time opera
tions of the navy and susceptible of |
rapid expansion into complete bases
for war fhe total cost of carrying it
out is estimated to be equivalent |
to the cost of seven battleships of the |
California type. While the United |
States cannot, under the treaty. in |
crease the number Of its battleships.
it can, the report says, greatly in
crease the mobility and effective fight |
ing value of the number It is limited |
to by building up its bases and sta |
tions as recommended. Not until this |
is done will it be possible TO utilize |
the full potential strength of the fleet
Quicker Work Advisable
Calling attention to the fact that all |
of the items of the program would be |
Immediately necessary in the event of |
war, the board declares that to spread |
their completion over 20 years is risk |
and is postponement of that degree |
of preparedness which constitutes |
good national insurance and which is |
most effective in furthering our ma
tional policies during peace. The rec |
ommendatiOn is therefore made that if |
the national finances mt any time per- |
nit, this program be pushed TO a more !
rapid completion.
OF the total of S1G,45S, ,S35 recon- |
mended by the boards supplementary |
report on development of naval air |
stations, $4,000 is recommended for |
inclusion in the estimates this fall,
$554, 900 for the station at Coco Sola, |
Canal Zone, and $266,000 for the Pearl |
harbor station.
The board found that the develop
ment of air stations is entirely lacking
in the capacity to carry out their mis-
sion in the navy's lolicy as outlined
in the Rodman board report, which is:
coastal sea areas.
2. Convoy operations.
3. Attacks on enemy submarines,
aircraft or surface war vessels
4. Operations against enemy vessels
engaged in attacks on our coast.
Declaring that it believes it "im-
perative for the national defense" that
the development program recommend
ed be carried out as soon as practi-
cable, the board specifies the order of
procedure in order that 1.-The most
urgent items of development be initi-
ated