Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1927-08-09
PR()(C'R
FOR NAVY
TO STAND
10 Change Contemplated
Due to Failure of Arms
Conference.
PLANS TO PROCEED
Secretary Wilbur Issues
Statement on Policy TO
BE Carried Out.
Ey PAUL X. MALLON
United Press staff Core spouda

UNITED PresS staff Core spoAdant
RAPID CITY, s. D., Aug .
President Coolidge conferred with
Secretary Of the Navy Wilbur to
day about the future naval buildiny
program rs rcsuIt Of the break
down of the Geneva disarmament
conference and afterward 10th an.
nodnced that 40 immediate change
III plans is contemplated.
Both the president and Wilbur,
however, left 4 Gear impression
that future expansion might be nee.
essary and Wilbur said the general
board Of the navy il now working
son plans to be submitted to the
1,neNt session of congress.
In Mr.. Coolidge 3 behalf it was
announced that the naval program
~ould 60 on as usual. He believes
the present building program which
calls for eight additional light
cruisers should be carried forward
He had hoped that an agreement
might be reached At the Geneva con
ference for limitation Of further
building. Now that the agreemen.
has failed the United states remains
in the same position that she was
before. Their" is still a possibility
tina! an agreement may be reached
NS,mc time in the future.
Meantime, this government, il was
officially stated, will 70 ahead with
program 10 provide what is
) thought To hc necessary for maiuten-
lance Of the defense of the country.
May Change Air Program
Mr. Coolidge implied that there
might bc application Of the air
building program. He rceollected
that the Morrow board laid down
five wears building project which
was ratified by compress but added
that marked developments have
teen made in aviation to point GU,
new fields since that day.
1--WE expect to 90 ahead with the
.ahuilding and replacement plan OF
ship building for the navy rs devel.
oped by the general board for our
reeds. - Wilbur said in statement
reed ia ncwspapermcn There
viii I've no changes in plans due 10
inability to reach an agreement at
Geneva.
',Thc exact details to he present.
ed 10 the next congress have not
vet been determined IA VIII be ar
rived nj in the usual manner
The only ampliflcatim Of that
statement which Wilbur would
make was an iutimatlon that
rthc usual manner meant the re.
recommendations of The board would
Should be submitted to the budget
bureau and the President aF requr-
Il by law before presentation to
Congress.
While both statements hrcathcd
extreme caution tAcv left a clear
impression that some plan might be
rI,scntcd to congress ncNt session
t. build up the novy to q standpoint
necessary for national defense.
May Abandon pirigible
Wilbur alsu made known that DIT
f.cultics have arisen between the
government and the Goodyear Yep.
rcln Company which may prevent
building Of new dirisihle three
times tie size of the Los Angeles.
Sic company, said Wilbur, has re
fused to enter a contract on cost
plus fixed fee basis. It has insisted
that rs an experimental. enterprise
~ should be permitted more finan-
cifl lccW1y.
Wilbur made known that he IN
tended to give the matter to con
press az soon AZ il reconNencs ana
let it determine whether contracts
ehculd be entered or whether the
government should drop the plan to
build the ship.
The dirigi6lc would he able T,
cary three fighting airplanes and
would cost about $r500,oUo
4 Wilbur ALSO indicated that the
tsontemplatcd expansion in the air
Service would be carried forward on
n large scale lie estimated that
rs.hr present arrangements the de-
6Aament Mould be equipped IN five
wears with 1000 first class fighting
planes.