The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-05
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N.e XIII
SAOAOAAD
SUBMARINE ISSUE
TO BE DISCUSSED


WASHINGTON, May 4. Despite
the statement Of Secretary of the
Navy Wilbur minimizing the re-
ported deficiencies 81 the United
States navy. the campaign in Cons
gress to find out Just how the
American battle fleet stacks up''
will go forward vigorously this
week, as a basis of possible addi-
tional appropriations
On Monday two members of the
House, Representatives Britten, Hi
aois, and Rogers, Massachusetts,,
will introduce resolutions, they have
announced, asking the secretary; Of
the navy to lay before the House
the condition of the navy. Brit
ten is ranking republican member Of
the naval affairs conmitte, while
Rogers occupies the same position
on the foreign affairs committee.
A Thorough Inyestfsaklons
Ny resolution will bring about q
thorough investigation Of the naval
esta blishEnent and will once more
call % the attention ~ Tie eoNn-
fssc p of|k N,ssI
preparedness In naval sense.
Britten said.
y think the country wants 10 know
the facts as to whether We are or are
not maintaining the treaty navy.
Rogers declared IF we are, we can
dismiss apprehension for the moment.
But IT we are not it Is incumbent upon
the administration and upon Congress
to make good the deficiencies
y
the Americans nation TO maintain the
$50 treaty navy ratio as If Is to main.
tain the Monroe doctrine Inactivity
by the administration or by Congress-
in this vital matter should not be
tolerated by the American peeple.F n
Move Anticipated
Britten's move was anficipated. fol-
lowing the general program begun with
Introduction OF a bill asking $500. 600
Tor eleyating guns ON ~ first-line hat
tleships, and urging appropriation for
additional light cruisers, and for the
fe-conditioning Of six first-line battle
ships, provided in bills now before the
House. Britten conferred with Cool
luge regarding his proposed inquiry. and
said the President is heartily in favor
Of ms action Regors' step had not
been announced previously.
Ihe resolution of the Illinois con-
greseman takes the form Of 81 mes
tons, relating to every branch Of the
naval establishment Rogers, in his,
resolution, asks whether the United
states navy, as whole, both as regards
vessels limited BY the arms conference
treaty. and those outside of the treaty.
- maintaining with Great Britain and
Japan the 5-5-3 ratio it was accorded
at the Washington conferences.
Among other things, Britten asks
whether the United States navy Ia now
third among the nayies of the world
whether it trails Great Britain. France
and Japan in aviation preparedness. If
the navy has less than three months
supply Of fuel oil in storage compared
with reported reserves among other
signatory powers of one to three years
SUPPLY whether Great Britain's %
flrst-iine battleships have superior
speed, greater radius sof action. bet
ter torpedo and aircraft protection and
longer gun range facilities than this
conntrys IL first-line ships what
auxiliary crusires ARE needed to round
out the fleet; if it is true that the Uni.
ted States has not single submarine
capanleof maneuyering with the fleet,
and whether they are obsolete before
construction is completed.
Can't See Returns
just imagine spending 5000 900
over period of years for submarine
construction only to find that we have
not single ship that is worth darn
and that fleet submarines costing ST..
100000 each are put out Of commits
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