Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-14
WILBUR DEFENDS
NAVAL PROGRAM
Critics UnwittingIy Sponsor
Move to BIindfoId Fleet,
He Says.

Ev the Associated Press.
INDIANAPOLIS. February 14.-As-
sailing the critics Of the aomllistra-
tons Navy building program. secretary
Wilbur declared here last night shat
they were unwittingly sponsoring a
movement TO make the Navy fight
hlindfolded.
He riGicu,ed those who attacked the
cost Of the program. asserting that the
nine-veaT building program OF S74o.-
600 900 is $4,000 900 less than the
candy bill Of the United States in 1928.
He also said that III 1925. women spent
81 SIS. 000. 200 on cosmetics and said
that if attacks upon the Navy wer' q.
based solely upon economic grounds &
may be deferentially suggested uiat
there are times when gunpowderv is
more valuable than face powder.
Called Eyes Of Fleet. +
Speaking broadly" the Secretary
told the indianapolis Association Of
Credit Men. lit may be sid that the
ships planned "a this building program
constitute the eyes Of TIE feet.
Those who a1e ignoranIiy attacking this
program w.ta a view of restraining the
bel.igereNcS Of this Nation do not. per-
haps, ref.iize that obey are trying 10 put
sailo2 men VIZ have TO fight blind
folded."
The Navy building program now re-
ceiving consideration by the House COM
mittee on naval affairs represents an
orderly step in the development OF
treaty Navy. the Secretary said.
1T would seem that in view of the
recent, World War and in view OF the
enormous sacrifices cheerfully made by
this Government and by the Navy In
the interest Of peace and harmony and
disarmament. these outpourings might
well be overlooked. but the naval COM
raittee Of the House is being bonlharded
with kilograms. correspondence and
resolutions. expressing horror at the
building program approved by the Navy
Department and by the President OF the
United States II should be
noted that our building program is in
large measure a replacement program"
Building Slowed Up.
The Secretary said that Immediately
after the Geneva Disarmament Confer
ence I'VE were called upon -odetermine
and TO declare a naval policy. This dec
la-ation was made at the Black Hills.
South Dakota, shortly after the Geneva
conference We declared that We would
arce with our needs and in accordance
with plans which We evolved before the
Geneva conference. and the failure Of
the conference would not cause us to
depart from that program.
The fundamental reason that the
present program is large is that We
have not been building ships of the
type and Of the quantity needed during
the period in which we hoped for sup
Elemental treaty limiting armament Of
this type Of ship. We did not again
desire TO scrap new ships. We proposed
20 wait until the limit was fixed and
then build up 70 that limit instead OF
repeating what we Gid In the Washing
ton agreement-agree upon limit and
scrap down to that limit.
"One Of the reasons for proposing
this program at this time Is because We
want 10 get behind us the building OF
these necessary auxiliaries before We are
confronted with problems Of replace
ment Of battleships and capital ships
IN accordance with the terms of the
Washington treaty for the Limitation:
Of naval ornaments"