Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

needs pointed out by the Secretary.
who asserts that with the increasing
age Of many of the ships. the cost of
upkeep is mounting without increase
in appropriations absolutely ncces-
sary to maintain the fleet efficiency.
The legitimate demands of national
defense, according to Mr.. Wilbur, re-
quire a building program now. He
points ont specifically that the fail
ure of the Geneva conference with
Great Britain and Japan makes this
imperative, not only from the stand
point of national defense. hut To main.
tain the a-5-3 ratio in cruisers and air
craft carriers He says that replace
mcnt tonnage in destroYers soon will
he needed. and that some of this ton
mage should he in the form of de-
stroycr leaders.
Work Is Delayed.
The modernization of the battle
ships Oklahoma and Nevada, already
authorized. has been held up because
of the failure of Congress to provide
the necessary funds, and he adds that
five additional battleships of the Ok
lahoma class should be modernized.
total of seven.
Pointing out the great value
and wide scope of the work of the
L. s. Naval Research Laboratory at
Bellevue. D. c, he says that intensive
research is necessary to the continued
readiness of the Navy and that an
expansion of present research facIll-
ties is warranted and should be made
as RAPIDLY as funds can be utilized
economically. He adds that success
full research may increase enormously
the value of war material already on
hand and yield a return far in excess
of the moderate sums needed for such
research. concluding that I'VE should
utilize to the full the inventive genius
of the American people.
Further operation of the Naval
Research Laboratory" he says, speak
ing of this important branch of the
Navy in the District of Columbia, i'm
creasingly demonstrates the value of
research as a contributing factor to
naval efficiency and economy. Under
the direct control of the Navy Depart
ment, research work is carried on in a
naval atmosphere with such secrecy
as may be desirable, and concentration
on problems of major naval Importance
is possible. The location makes the
laboratory easily accessible to the
personnel of the material bureaus
primarily interested ian its work.
Research is Stressed.
Naval materials and their use en-
brace practically the entire field of
science and technology and scientific
work is necessary to solve many prob
lens which conditions essentially mill
tary present Some research prob
lens may never be solved, while
others may require wears of research
haf fc-2y 10
The solution of one problem may be
sufficient to change radically existing
military tactics or give decided mill
tary advantage over a possible enemy.
New lines of work to meet naval needs
are being undertaken as rapidly as
conditions Permit.
'In addition. work on specific prob
lens, fundamental research which
gives premise of naval application is
undertaken, and much informa ton of
scientific nature resulting therefrom
has been given publicity by scientific
journals. Research work in every line
IL necessary if human effort is to he
conserved, and while the laboratory's
work is primarily to meet naval needs,
il is also a contribution to the solu-
ton of problems of scientific and eco
nomic value to the entire country"
Taking up the condition of the fleet,
Mr.. Wilbur says that the battleships
are in substantially the same material
condition as they were at the begin
ming of the year, and that the amount
of funds available makes it possible
to take care of only absolutely
urgent and ne essary repairs, with
nothing left to provide very impor-
tant major alterations to keep the fleet
in the prime of condition in compari-
son with the fleets of other world
powers.
Repairs Required.
Taking up the question of destroy.
ers. Mr.. Wilbur says that about 50
per cent of these vessels have re-
qCired repairs, either emergency or
routine. to their main turbines: so
per cent required boiler repairs, in
many cases complete retubing; a
smaller number had condenser defects,
and a few have had turbine vibra
tion and reduction-gea defects.
Practically all vessels" he con-
tinues, have had corrosion more or