Evening star., 1924-09-21
WILBUR UNSHAKEN
IN VIEW ON NAVY
Confident BattIeship Is Back.
bone of DefenSe-Deep
Study Ordered.

A far-reaching and thorough in
quiry to determine the relative value
of each arm of the national defense
under the Navy Department was set
Oh foot by Secretary of the Navy
Wilbur yesterday after a conference
with President Coolidge. The result
of the investigation will determine
a co-ordinated program for develop
ment of the American Navy during
the next several years.
Holding to an opinion previously
expressed in speeches, Secretary Will
bur declared that the battle ship
still is the backbone of national de-
fense," and that the fleet should be
maintained at top efficiency with the
strength allotted in accordance with
the Limitation of arms treaty, while
| every effort is made to develop and
organize the air forces as a concrete
auxiliary.
Confers With Coolidge.
His views on the subject of future
with President Coolidge after he had
submitted a report drawn up by Capt.
Walter r Chez '",ii his aide, which
set forth the tied views of the
service. The 'urt set forth that
aviation advance does not justify
us in allowing our Is battleships or
any of them to deteriorate, using
! money thus saved to build up ayia-
ton"
Three types of aviation" the re-
port said, should be developed: (a)
Flying boats for long-range scouting
and bombing; (b) amphibians and
singlepontoon planes for Spotting
and for close protection of the fleet
against submarine or destroyer at
tacks: (b) twin-pontoon planes for
torpedo planes, but these should be
| considered as secondary to the first
two"
Reports Four Results.
Mr. Wilbur's conference at the
White House lasted about an hour,
and at it's conclusion he said that
he had reported on his five-week in
spection of the feet and naval shore
stations on the West coast and of the
political situation there as he had
observed it. The naval secretary
went Immediately to the Department
from the White House, where he
busted himself for the remainder of
the day in conferences with his assQ7
ciates on naval questions, including
that of the budget, which has al
ready brought disagreement with the
Budget Bureau.
Speeches Not Discussed.
The Secretary declared his speeches
during the period had not been dis
cussed at the conference, and the only
explanation given for the Presidents
request that he return to the Capital
was that a new valuation of air. sub
marine and surface craft of the Navy
was necessary with a view to ad-
justing the sums to be sought Tor
each from the budget.
Secretary Wilbur declared much OF
the adverse comment regarding his
recent speeches was the result of mis-
ouotations. No criticism of the Jap
anese had been voiced in his address
at Seattle, he asserted, but, on the
contrary, the entire speech was de-
signed to be "conciliatory."
Similarly, he said, the Catalina
speech had been misinterpreted as an
attack upon prohibition, when it was
intended merely to point the extreme
to which non-observance Of political
rights could be carried. That address
was made, he said. to an assemblage
of lawyers, who clearly perceived its
import.
The Secretary, who came here Fri
day night, cutting short his western
speaking tour after being asked by
President Coolidge to return, visited
the White House early yesterday and
was received by Mr.. Coolidge in his
study. He talked freely of his trip
and of his western addresses after
wards. but said he would refuse to
discuss personalities in connection
with the California political situation.
He predicted California would go for
Coolidge and Dawes if the present
method of campaigning was con-
tinued. asserting complete harmony
prevailed.