Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-05
Officials Expect U. S. to Go
Ahead With Original
Naval Program.
WILBUR WILL CONFER
WITH COOLIDGE SOON
$100,000,OO0 Estimated Annual
Cost When Replacement Of
Obsolete Ships Begins.

| By the Associated Press.
While the administration has yet to
formulate its policy, it is regarded as
certain in we'll informed circles here
that the collapse of the Geneva con-
building race between the United
States and Great Britain.
This view is predicated upon several
elements In the present situation; the
known views Of President Coolidge
| that the Navy should be fashioned
solely to the needs of national de-
fense, the economic problem with Its
relation particularly to tax reduction
and the expressed hopes of the pleni'
potentiaries to Geneva and OF Secre'
tary kellogg that ultimately an accord
will be reached.
Although the "big Navy" advocates
| in Congress undoubtedly Will nave
some accretions to their ranks as
result of the failure OF the parley, the
opinion even in naval circles IS that
| the conservative element IN Congress
will be able to scotch any move look
| ing to an immense cruiser Meet.
Wilbur to See Coolidge.
Secretary Wilbur is to take up the
ravol nrogram with President Cool
idpe at Rapid City in the near future,
hut the administration plan probaply
will not be fully determined until
short time before Congress conVenes.
The present judgment OF some ad'
uiristration and naval officials IS tnat
| the United States will go ahead Win
| its original cruiser program, Gaming
| for fleet of 10,000ton craft carrying
| o.incb guns necessary to round out
tha battle squadron and protect I'M
nortant lanes of commerce.
lust how many such cruisers shou,u
he built has as yet not peen Hiaue
clear. but 1t probably would not eA
ceed a score, including the elgnt no"
either building or authorized. Inc
gram for new construction unoounteu'
ly would extend over a conlpaia'''ei'
long period of years.
Those officers who have mace
broad and comprehensive study Oh
The naval situation assert that without
few-veafs the American naval CON
struction bill must be enormously
Increased, rising perhaps 10 arouIiu
| 81 0n 600 900 annually when the re-
placement of capital ships peglhs
| four years from now.
Must Replace Auxiliaries.
They contend that in addition 10
capital ship replacement unoer the
provisions of the Washington treaty,
| the United States soon will be obllged
to replace part Of its destroyer ana
submarine tonnage unless 1t Is to con-
tinue maintenance Of obsolete ships
many of which were hastily con-
structed during the World war.
All this construction would De IN
addition to new cruisers, and the total
annual cost would be several times
that for new craft since the Wash
ington treaty was signed In 1927.
| Facing this situation, they argue
that the United States could not enter
| upon an extensive cruiser.build1ng
program if substantial reductions are
| to be made in the national tax Oil,
as is proposed at the next session OF
| Congress.
There also is the belief here, both
| in administration and congressional
circles, that the economic situations
in both Great Britain and Japan pre-
clude those nations from building up
great fleets Of cruisers Of the size and
gun power which this Government
has insisted on building as the only
type meeting it's needs.