Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-02-15
COOLIDGE WINS
SUPPORT FOR
NAVYPROGRAN|
Britten Hopeful Admins
tratiOn Plan Will Be Ac-
cepted by Congress
|NEED NEW SHIPS
Agrees to Presidents Pro-
pOsal to Build as Finances
Will Warrant
NEED NEW SHIPS

WASHINGTON, Feb. IA R)-Presi-
dent Coolidge was represented to-
day by representative Britten of Ill
inois,. ranking republican on the house
naval committee, as hopeful that the
administrations $74O0O00OO warship
construction program would be ac-
cepted by congress without material
change.
The Illinois member, who called at
the White House during the day, said
that he was in harmony with the
program as submitted and would sup
port it both in the committee and on
the house floor.
"The president said that the pro-
gram was not large one and that
he hoped it woGfd be accepted by
congress, without substantial amend
ment," Britten declared in state
ment.
He added that Mr.. Coolidge also
had said that the country needed the
proposed ships to round out the navy,
care for requirements and to assure
adequate protection to the nations
peaceful existence.
Britten, who recently advocated that
definite completion date be set for
finishing work on the proposed %
cruisers, five aircraft carriers, nine
destroyers and 80 submarines, de-
clared that after talking with Mr..
Coolidge he had changed his mind.
For congress to place time limit
on the completion of the program
might work in serious discord with
the countrys finances" Britten con-
tinued, and he (Ar. Coolidge pre-
ferred to build up This branch OF
national defense when and as dictated
by the financial condition of the
treasury.
"He was not apparently disturbed
by the present propaganda promoted
by the paid representatives OF the
self-styled war prevention societies.
"This was to be expected" he said.
The house naval committee today
questioned a group OF representatives
of large ship building companies as
to the prospective cost of the pro-
posed construction. Each representa-
tive emphasized that he was appear
ing at the committees request and
not to indorse the building plan. They
said that the shipbuilding industry
was in a bad way due to lack OF
construction, but that it was up to
congress to determine the size Of the
navy.
The committee intends to hear a
group of witnesses opposed to the
carrying out of the program.
In addition to Britten's presenta-
ton of the presidents views, it was
learned that Mr. Coolidge feels that
in the events of formidable oppo-
sition to the complete construction
program attention should be directed
at the need for cruisers. If any part
of the program is to be rejected
he holds to the view that the pairing
should fall first on other types OF
warcraft
Mr.. Britten in his statement said
that after being advised by navy
technical officers that mot even pre-
liminary plans and specifications had
been prepared" for the aircraft car
riers, destroyer leaders and SUBJ
marines, he was convinced it would
be unwise to provide definite COM
pletion date.
II shall now support the presidents
program in detail" he said, adding
Few people realize that the entire
new shipbuilding program including
two $4,O0OOO0 rigid airships, $6,50O,O0C
major alterations on the battleships
Oklahoma and Nevada and also IN
cluding $3O,00O.O00 a year for pay anc
food for 28,300 additional enlisted
personnel, will only increase the an
nual naval appropriation bill al
ready recommended to congress by
the budget bureau less than 80 pei
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