Evening star., 1924-12-14
Committee Reveals Confiden-
tiaI Information-HoIds
Alarm Is BaseIess.
$500, 900, 900 MEASURE
SUBMITTED FOR ACTION
Determination for Full Probe of
Situation Increased by
Findings.

The controversy as to whether the
American Navy is fit to fight found
new fuel yesterday with the publi-
cation of confidential testimony given
to a House committee during the
preparation of the annual Naval sup
ply bill.
The committee itself reported to
Congress that 1t did not feel "the
country need be alarmed" that "our
Naval prestige is rapidly waning"
Accompanying this report was an
official transcript of the testimony
of Secretary Wilbur that the Gov
ernment must spend s110,000,000 an
nually for the next 20 years for new
construction IL the Navy is to be
main tanned on an equal footing in all
branches with that of Great Britain
and superior to that of Japan.
The committees observation and
the Secretary's statement went to
the House along with the Naval ap-
preparation bill proposing nearly
three hundred million dollars to take
care of the existing establishment
and construction heretofore author
ized.
Thorough study Sought.
Information coming thus from tbs
hitherto sealed doors of the House
committee served to increase the de-
termination of those in the Congress
who are insisting that there must be
thorough going investigation to get
at all the facts with regard to the
condition both of the Naval estab-
lishment and of the fighting fleet.
Coincident with the developments in
the Army Air Service disclosed that
the recent bombing on the uncomplet-
ed superdreadnaught Washington had
demonstrated that American Naval
architects had developed in the ships
that are being scrapped under the
Washington arms treaty craft that
could withstand attacks from the
present-day airplanes.
F Taking eQgnizanoe in its report to
the House of previous reports as to
the unsatisfactory conditions OF the
capital ships. the naval approptfaI
tfons committee said these conditions
had been remedied except with re-
spect to one -battleship-the Florida.
Work on that craft, it said, was be-
ing held In abeyance pending decision
as to whether she is to be converted
from a. coal TO an oil burner
Asserting that the naval ratio as
between the United States, Great
Britain and Japan lis different
measurement" leading into channels
of SO broad and varied remifications
that only those possessing all the
available facts with respect to both
the American and foreign nayfes
were in position to speak. the COM
mittee suggests that the authorship of
reports regarding the ratio "be con-
sidered when forming an opinion"
Turning to the Navy's needs, the
committee said the bill it reported
carried the money for two additional
Meet submarines and also all that it
VIII be practicable to expend during
the ensuing fiscal year for making
repairs and effecting desirable i'm
provements on vessels Of the fee.
The program of modernization Of
certain battleships and of new con-
struction of cruisers and eunboats
carried In the so-called moderniza-
tion bill just passed by the Senate"
the report added, "curiously should
not be appropriated for in advance
or budget estimates and thorough
hearings
In the meantime. the committee
reefs, looking at the situation from
many influencing angles. that thsra
need be no misgiyings. as. to our
naval forces generally in an hour os
need" -
Wilbur Gives Estimates.
Secretary Wilbur, in informing Con.
gress that $110,000,0 900 would have
TO De spent annually If the Nayy is
TO be maintained on par with that
OF Great Britain and superior TO
Japan's, made no recommendation
that this be done. He estimated that
of the total amount $4,000, 900 yearly
for 20 years would be needed for
ships and s1s,ooo,0oo for aircraft.
Until there is an international
agreement limiting within reason.
able bounds" the additions to the
portions of the fleet not covered in
the arms treaty, Secretary Wilbur
said, the only method of maintaining
the treaty ratio of the respective
fleets will be by a building program
commensurate with that OF the other
signatory powers.
I'm such case" he added, "the very
absence of an agreement with refer
ence to such vessels Chose other than
capital ships) makes our, policy de-
pendent upon that of the other pow
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