Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-17

CONTINUED From First Paee.) :.
priations totaling s4,060, 900 have been
made by Congress for starting con-
gtruction.
Bids for the carrier were opened
September 3, three companies seeking
to do the job.
The Nays two giant aircraft car
fiers. U. s. 8. Lexington and Saratoga,
were originally designed as cruisers.
but under the Washington Arms treaty,
they were redesigned as aircraft car
eiers. The experimental aircraft car
rier, U. s. 8. Langley, was formerly
collier.
Loss Here Of 100000
Construction Of some of the turret
structure for the new cruiser. to be built
ut the Mare Island, Calf, Navy Yard,
hitherto done at the washington Navy
Yard for vessels of this type, win be
accomplished by the shipbuilder on the
West Coast. This viii involve the loss
OF nearly $500. 900 that would ordinarily
50 to the local yard, The star learned
today.
All guns and ordnance equipment,
Under cognizance of the Bureau Of Ord
nance, Navy Department, for the new
cruiser and for the new aircraft car.
rier, to be built at Newport News, va,
viii be built at the local yard, officials
said, but viii not alter the employment
situation here materially. The Bureau
OF Construction and Repair of the Navy
Department, Of which Rear Admiral
George H. Rock is the chief, has decided
that instead Of having the turret fea-
lures for the Mare Island cruiser con-
structed here, they will be built at the
California Navy Yard.
Naval ofdcials here made it plain
that the decision to have the turret
work done on the West Coast does not
fenect upon the workmanship at the
Washington Navy Yard. but insisted
that this is readoption of q long
established practice in the shipbuilding
industry. AS the washington Navy
Yark had done quite q bit OF work on
the turrets, before the designs were
altered to conform to advance ideas
IN shipbuilding, the officials said, it
was decided to permit the local yard
70 so ahead and finish the revised
program.
Custom TO Parallel Work.
The evolution of the modern cruiser
nom the comparatively light vessel TO
heavier armor has had a large part in
the decision to ship the work from
Washington, the officials said. It has
been the custom in the case of battle
the turrets at the same time that the
ship was built, they explained. having
the two processes parallel.
AS Uncle Sans cruisers have now
assumed armored ship features. the
naval authorities said they have decided
TO revert TO the practive, now obtaining
in battleship construction. under which
the turfetS are built by the constructor.
near where the vessel is being raised
Naval officials declined to disclose
what ordnance the new aircraft carrier
will be equipped with, but the new
cruiser which Is to be q sister ship of
the New Orleans, now under construc-
ton at the New York Navy Yard, will
be equipped with nine 8-inch guns, four
5-iflch anti-aircraft guns and two 81
inch triple torpedo tubes.
Ohicials OF the Bureau Of Ordnance
said that all guns and ordnance under
the cognizance of that bureau would
be constructed at the Washington Navy
Yard Hitherto. the washington Navy
Yard has done the turret work for the
Bureau Of Construction and Repair, and
this has been shipped assembled to
where tbs ship was under construction
Idttie Eject Here.
In the opinion Of the oficials, the
number of workmen at the Washington
Navy Yard win not be affected by the
new construction Of the cruiser and air.
craft carrier, TO any marked extent. It
will, however, fail TO stem the tide OF
gradual reductions In the working force.
under which about 1000 men were
taken on by Rear Admiral Arthur l..
willard, when cofnnlandant of the
washington Navy Yard, to take care
Qf the Is cruisers that Congress ordered