Imperial Valley press., 1931-11-02
Chief IN
DEFENSE
OF NAVY
Secretary Asserts Cost Is
Not BurdensOme To
People OF Nation.
CHALLENGE SEEN
Statement Construed AS
Opposing HOOver's Pro-
gram Of Economy.
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
United Press Staff CORRESPONDENT


WASHINGTON, Nov. 2. U.D--
Stepping boldly into the cross fire
between President Hoover and Navy
League, Secretary of Navy Charles
Francis Adams has undertaken to
| champion the cause of the navy
agains. what he terms extremely
misleading assertions that it is AN
excessive burden on the country.
He has issueo statement de-
claring the American navy costs
per capita about half what the
British navy costs and that the
United States spends on its navy,
in proportion to national income,
/ far less than any other naval DOW
er.
Though he seldom issues press
statements, this one was put out
for Monday newspapers under his
own signature. His action was con-
strued in some quarters as chal-
lenge to the administration in view
OF persistent rumors IN Washington
that he was in conflict with Presi.-
dent Hoover over the adminiStra-
ton economy campaign against the
navy and might resign.
His action gained significance al
so because it came just as President
Hoover was about to announce ap-
pointment of special COMMITTEES
to investigate assertions by William
Howard Gardiner, president Of tho
Navy League, that the President
displays "absymal ignorance" Of
naval policy and is debating It's
external subordination to those OF
foreign naval powers Mr.. Hoover
| publicly demanded an apology from
Gardiner for his "untruthS."
Will Urge Apology
Meanwhile a statement from O
high official of the navy League
indicated Gardiner will face pres
sure from within his own organiza-
ton to accede to the Presidents re-
quest for an apology.
Henry Breckenridge, prominent
New York attorney, who is a mem
ber CT the leagues executive COM
mittee and was formerly its pres
ident. dissociated himself from the
parts of GARDENERS statement which
spoke with disrespect of the Pres
idcnt of the United States" Gardi-
ner had issued the statement In
the name of the league.
Previously Mr.. Hoover, believing
some in the navy were attempting
to start backfire against his ec-
onomies, threatened to carry his
case to the American people. Adams
apparently framed his own state
ment as an appeal TO the country
for it closed with this cryptic sem
tence: For the American standard
of living, we have comparatively
inexpensive naval establishment.
and 1t gives me pleasure to bring
this fact to the attention of the
American people in order that they
may not be misled by confusing
statistics haphazardly interpreted
In issuing this statement, Adams
said his attention had been called
to one by the World Peace Found
alton charging the United States
with eXpending more than Great
Britain on its navy. He said this
was misleading. The United States
spent In 1890 s375 ,291 1923 as against
$349, ,927,670 by Great Britain,
Adams said but he added this did
not take into account the relatively
higher cost of labor and materials
in America, or the higher naval
pay.
Adams said the per capita cost
of the American navy is 1924 per
year as against 1921 for Great Bri-
tain, $3.50 for France, S2.08 for
Japan, s1.84 for Italy, and s0.78 for
Germany. The ratio of the naval
budgets to national income was
given as follows: United States.
.OO43; Great Britain, ,0148; Japan.
.0239: Italy, OTIS; Germany, .0o39.
Figures for Great Britain, France
and Italy do not include the cost
of air forces which though ad-
ministered independently, operate IN
conjunction with naval forces,
whereas the American navy main
tains its own air services.