Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-18

Unexpected announcement by the
Navy Department that nearly so craft
are to be strapped and that there will
be material reduction In personnel has
been received by the country with vary
ing comments. There are some protests
against the reduction In both ships and
men, while in other quarters it is
pointed out that the ships doomed by
the department are not required for
adequate national defense.
Admiral William v. Pratt, chief of
naval operations" says the Buffalo
Evening News, announces plans, in ac-
cordance with the London treaty, to
withdraw 40 war vessels and 1890 men,
at a saving of $10,998,949. There's
practical evidence that the naval re-
duction agreement does reduce arma-
ment." The Memphis Commercial APP
peal observes that, having agreed with
Japan and Great Britain to certain linn
itations of her naval strength, our Gov
eminent has adopted plans to put the
agreement into effect" That paper
hopes that the good faith of the
United States will bring as much fidel-
ity of both literal and figurative kind
to engagements by the other powers,
more than was evident after the United
States strapped new vessels in accord
ance with the Washington pact"
treaty. by one group of admirals," it is
pointed out by the Kansas City Times,
did not involve any of these with
drawals, which, indeed, can scarcely be
held to endanger our defenses. Yet
they viii mean q saving to the country
of about Sill 100000 in two years. Even
this tidy sum, however, is drop in the
bucket when compared to the eventual
economies to be made as result Of the
London agreement" The Providence
Journal directs attention to the fact
that ''the vessels now being scrapped
are, for the most part, obsolete types
which would logically pass out of exist
ence in the course of few years" The
Journal feels that there is no occasion
for any one to get excited either on
account of the decreased fighting
strength of the Navy or on account of
diyesting employed men of their jobs" "
Recognizing that naval conferences
seem to enable us to get rid of our
obsolete vessels which otherwise would
still be hanging on our hands" the
Charleston Daily Mail states that zone
is not so optimistic about discharging
the men, thus adding to unemployment"
but adds that las We build our new
cruisers and put them in commission
tAACJ WALL ICEO tkCWS, Willie WHICH, ta4C
total OF the quota shall have been built
more men will be required to man them
| than shall have been discharged"
Explanation Of the provision relating
to personnel is made by the New York
Times with the statement: Reduction
of the Navy personnel by 1890 will not
be abrupt Enlistment contracts will
be respected, although those who wish
to leave the service will be allowed to
II Tfv,Isr 80. g.. la
intervals. New enlistmentS will be cut
from 400 to 200 a month. The total
economy resulting from reducing the
fleet and personnel may amount to
| $29, 100000 next year." The Times
agrees that the department order us but
| the carrying out by the United States
of the London treaty." Similar opin-
| ions as to the effect of the treaty are
voiced by the San Antonio Express and
the Terre Haute Star, the latter advis-
| ing elimination of numerous naval
bases which entail considerable expense
| but which are obsolete so far as their
value to the fighting fleet is concerned"
| Doubt as to prospects for the future
| is seen by the Flint Daily Journal with
! the statement that mo one seems to
| know whether this country is to reduce
its naval strength or launch upon a
building campaign which will give us
| parity with Great Britain. That paper
concludes: mo one can say at the
moment whether the Hoover economy
program or the treaty Navy is to be
successful. This problem will be one
| Of the interesting contests OF the fu-
| ture." The Philadelphia Evening Bulle-
! tin, however, stresses the point that
''the general board is understood to be
at work on a program to be laid before
Congress, providing not only for battle
ship modernization, but for an adequate
construction program spread over pc
Rod sufficiently long not to impose I'M
due burdens Ia any one year" The