Evening star., 1925-08-26
-FOUR NAVAL BASES
MAY Be ABANDONED
IN BUDGET CUTTING
Boston, Charleston, Brook
Iyn and Hampton Roads
Due to Be Closed.
SLASH OF $40, 900, 900
DEMANDED BY BUREAU
Aviation Schemes to Be Given Up
and Army Men Dropped, Ac-
cording to Plans.
By the Annotated Press

By the Associated Press.
Budget pairing and it's possible re-
quirements as to a curtailed program
is encag ging the study of naval heads
as we'll as the War Department
Acting at the request of the Budget
Bureau TO reduce its program for the
fiscal year 1927. the Navy Depart
ment has slashed its original esti-
mates by more than $4O,o 900 by ar
ranging to curtail activities all along
the line. and perhaps abandon a num-
Der of Eastern Shore stations. War
Department officials at the same time
fear that the Arny's budget, although
there has been no authoritative indi-
cation of what the bureaus recon-
mendations may be, will be limited
to a figure that will necessitate drop
ing from 1000 to 10000 enlisted men
and possibly loo to 1000 officers.
Yards to Be Closed.
Where s353,oOO,000 was originally
asked, the naval program is now un-
derstood to represent an outlay for
the next fiscal year of approximate
1910, 900. 900. This compares with an
appropriation of s323,000,000 for the
present fiscal year.
lnaSmuch as officers regard $780,
100000 as about the minimum nee
essary for maintenance and opera ton
purposes, 1t has been necessary in
meeting budget requirements to cut
into plans for new construction as
well as aviation development, in ad-
dition TO curtailing the shore stations.
While conferences have not been
conducted at the Navy Department on
Stfnafinn &c md ~
vised estimates provide for the closing
OF the Boston navy yard, the Charles.
ton, ). C., navy yard, the supply base
at Brooklyn, N. Y, and either the
Great Lakes or the Hampton Roads
naval training station. In taking this
stand, 1t is pointed out that recon-
mendations of the board headed by
Rear Admiral Rodman three years ago
on the shore establishment situation
are being followed.
Urge Center in Pacific.
The move also would be in line with
the general trend of recent years in
basing naval activities in the Pacific,
thereby eliminating the necessity of so
many stations on the east coast.
The present strength of 5000 en-
| listed men is expected to be main
tained, but the original plan to utilize
| SAT 100000 toward new construction,
much Of which was authorized last
year by Congress in new cruisers and
other craft, but not appropriated for
! beyond an amount sufficient merely 10
begin construction, faces the prospect
! of sharp revision.
| While S14 900, 900 is regarded as the
minimum requirement for the Bureau
of Aviation, $33,000,0 900 had been re
iqueSted to expand the activities of this
| branch of the service. This figure,
too, is now faced with the probability
| of a considerable reduction.
| Although some consideration is said
| to have been given to closing the air
station at Lakehurst, n. j., and plac-
| ing the dirigibles Los Angeles and
| Shenandoah out of commission, unless
| the former were leased to private
| company for commercial operations,
| indications now are that this step will
| not be taken.