Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-03
HOOVER AND NAVY
SPLIT since 1929
Present Dispute Is Harshest,
With Officers Seethinu at
Gag on Speeches.

~ the Associated ptsAs.
Controversies between President Hoo
yer and a considerable wing Of naval
opinion are nothing new, for they have
been going on ever aimee Mr. Hoover
took once
None has had the hardness behind
r. Aowever of the Chief Executives
current dispute with William Howard
Gardner. president Of the Navy League.
Mr.. Hoover has hit heavy at those In
the Navy who resisted his plans for cur
tailed expenditures or armament reduc-
tioeis and he has dema nded silence OF
them. too Direct replies have been In
frequent. but unquestionably Unaffected
officers have sought indirect conmuni-
cation to the public or their views.
split Began at ParIey.
A fundamental difference Of opinion
was unacceptable between a President
who believes implicitly In disarmament
and A group OF men trained TO beiieVe
that guns and armor were the nome
lands only defense The President has
made It no secret that he considers
naval men responsible for the failure
of the Geneva Conference OF 1927 and
that they still stand In the way OF In
ternational accords.
HIS difficulties with the sailors began
before the London conference. The
Navy's General Board had TO draw up
uian which would permit reduction and
still leave an efflcient fleet IL baked
long At Topping off S-inch-aun cruisers
and substituting vessels with smaller
arms. This point had largely wrecked
the Geneva meeting.
The President pressed, ana the ao-
mirals yielded. but not all we're recon
ciled. They we're pushed in the back
ground when the London delegation
wAa made up. Secretary Adams was
the lone delegate from the Navy among
seven. The admirals sent abroad were
merely expert advisers. -
when Rear Admiral Hilary P. Jones
left the conference because OF Ill nealth,
there was much talk that he deap.
nroved OF the agreement. He Justineo
IRIS view when the resulting treaty was
before the Senate Supported by
long list OF high-ranking officers, ne
condemned the pact ..,,,,,
on the other hand, Admiral William
v Pratt, who was soon to become cnlel
OF naval operations, expressed satslac,
ton. He liked small cruisers. Several
oficers sided with him.
Hughes Quit Post Over Policies.
Pratt's predecessor in ONCE. Admiral
Charles F. Hughes, quit his post carry
so As not to participate in the resultant
reorganization OF the fleet along lines
he did not like.
Later came the difhcult question OF
bringing the American feet up TO parity
With the British, as provided by the
treaty. The enormous cost involved
and other considerations brought about
a division OF opinion. With the cnanBe
in. the country's financial situation,
economy attained fresh Importance and
big expenditures for ornaments los u.
supporters. Yet naval officers generally
stuck fast to their goal OF parity
The Navy was not liberal In trim"
ming expenditures for the 1888 budget.
President Hoover sent back the esti-
mates with word they we're about SOU
600 900 too high. About the same time
he let It be known he was indignant
at oflcers who he believed were seek
ing 10 marshal public opinion against
his decreased expenditures,
The officers kept ofiicial silence, put
many OF them seethed. 1t became gen.
eraI knowledge at the Navy Depart
Ynent that reductions we're recommend
&c where they would be hardest to
The Budget Bureau still Is scrutin-
ising the new estimates.
Finally on the eve of Navy day,
new order for silence hit the oncers.
'rhey had been urged by the department.
Ia speak on that day on needs Tor
building up the feet and on allied
toulcs. A hurried order countermanoed
this. recommending that the orators
discuss instead the traditions OF the
naval service.
MT. Hoover took Navy day as q time
to declare his officers assured him the
American fleet was adequate to defend
the country.
After the budget storm broke, repeat
al Y4inors asserted Secretary Adams
sided with the admirals and was near
rupture with the President, This was
aTiplified into predictions Of his early
resignation. Adams has denied them all.
into this troubled pool Gardiner
pitched his bombshell charge OF "abys-
nal ignorance" on the part OF the
President