Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-21
Reconvenes on Anniversary
of Senate's Treaty
Ratification.
CRUISER LIST EQUALING
OTHER POWERS SOUGHT
500, 100000 Appropriation Remains
Intact as Administration Insists
on Carrying Out 1915 Plan.

Marking the first anniversary OF the
Senate's ratification of the London
Naval Treaty, the Navy General Board
convened today to resume deliberations
over a cruiser building program that
would place the United States on
parity with other world powers.
In the past year. since ratification
of the treaty, Congress failed to author
ize a single snip of the types covered
in the pact, despite commentators
OF the General Board for $90,OOo'oOo'
one-year program Funds were ap-
propriated. however, upon insistence OF
the administration, for construction OF
IL cestroyers, remaining from an au-
thorization passed in 1916.
TIE General Board, anxious to build
he NAVY TO somewhere near an equal
footing with those Of other nations,
has been meeting regularly through
out the Summer, with Secretary Charles
Francis Adams and Admiral William
V. Pratt, chief of naval operations
in constant attendance.
Program Incomplete.
No complete program has yet been
decided upon by this body OF high
ranking officers, but many plans nave
been preached for building the fleet up
10 treaty limits and it is believed GER
tain by department officials that
final program will be in President
Hooyer's hands some time before Con-
sress convenes in December.
The board is working cautiously and
secretly upon the program IN Vie" Vi
what happened last year when, aiter
virtually deciding upon tlve-year plan
it was forced 10 compromise on the
smaller recommendation because OF the
crowded short session OF Congress ana
The administrators economy program
1t was learned at the department,
however, that the board this year Is
expected to recommend to the Presl-
dent a comprehensive plan for building
the Navy close to treaty limits over
period of years This has virtually
been decided upon, it was said, because
other naval powers have been WORKING
steadily on cruiser building programs,
while the United States construction
has been only spotty."
Large Allowance Left.
During the life of the London pact
the United States has yet to lay down
100000 tons of desToyers, $4,000 tons
of submarines, $4,000 tons of 6-inch-
gun cruisers and 5000 tons of aircraft
carriers. Last years Recommendation
of the general board. which failed OF
approval by Congress, called for one
aircraft carrier in addition to the
Ranger, now building; one fying-deck
cruiser, one 6-inch-gun cruiser. four
submarines, S5,000,000 worth of air
planes for the Ranger and fund OF
$4,000 G0 for experimenting with sub
marine engines.
Today, a year after ratification of
the treaty, the United States has IL
vessels under construction, all Of pre-
treaty authorization; Great Britain
has sc, Japan II, rFanc 60 and Italy
10. In addition, this country has IL
appropriated for, Great Britain 10,
France Is and Italy %.
OF those authorized, according to
records filed at the Navy Department,
Americas IL are destroyers. Great
/ Britain's consist of four 6-inch-gun
cruisers, nine destroyers and six sub
marines; Frances comprise one 6-inch-
gun cruiser, six destroyers and II sub
marines, and Italy'S are one 3-inch-
gun cruiser, two 6-inch-gun cruisers,
four destroyerS and % submarines.
Two Air Carriers Built.
In the aircraft carrier category, the
United States has two completed and
one building, not counting the Langley,
which under the treaty is classified as
an experimental craft; Great Britain
has six in operation, and Japan, one
building and three in commission. This
leaves this country $500 tons of car
riers to build, as compared with 1850
tons for Great Britain and 12,030 tons
for Japan.
The 1881 80 programs of the sigma
tory powers, according to the Navy
Department, call for: Great Britain,
three cruisers, nine deStroyers and three
submarines, totaling 33,375 tons;
France, three cruisers and two sub
marines of a total tonnage of 38, 600.
The japanese and italian plans are not
available in Washington. The first of
the United States IL destroyers will
not be laid down until next Winter,
possibly early in 1882.
Should the general board forward to
President Hoover comprehensive long
term building program, as expected by
officials of the department, it might be
somewhat embarrassing to him, in the
opinion of observers, because of the fact
he has taken the lead in linking dis
armament with the international debt
mora torium.