Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-15
j. s. FIFTH IN NAVY.
BUILDING SCHEDULE.
Department Shows Impossi-
biIity of Reaching Treaty
Strength by 1896.

While the other four great naval pow
ers have continued the building up OF
their sea strength, the United States has
been tagging in naval construction so
that it will be virtually Impossible Tor
this Government to build up to London
Naval Treaty's strength, due to lack OF
time, by December 81, 1885.
The Navy Department, in an official
announcement yesterday. reviewing past
naval construction by the major ma
lions and the prospective programs, SAID
the United States has made provisions
for II ships. compared with 81 Tor
Great Britain. 33 for France and % for
Italy Quoting the japanese press, the
department said the Toxic government
program calls for SO new warships from
1881 to 1886.
The department made public the
tables of figures. without comment, but
observers deduced from them that Japan
will have vessels in varying stages OF
construction by December 81 1850
when the London Naval Treaty lapses.
Her complete treaty tonnage, in addi-
ton to new ships building will enable
Japan to use these as a bargaining
power in a new naval conference, the
Navy Department quoted an interpreta-
ton of the japanese press as saying.
Bids to Be Opened.
The United States has provided for
only IL destroyerS. totaling 16,50O tons,
under its 1882 program. and bids for
these are to be opened here tomorrow.
The Navy Department asked Congress
for one airplane carrier OF 1890 tons;
one flying deck cruiser of 5000 tons;
one cruiser of 1000 tons; four sub
marines of 1000 tons total and IL de-
stroyers. which had already been au-
thorized in 1916, before America entered
the World War. Congress, however, ap-
proved only the construction of IL de-
stroyers.
The United States did not build a
single naval vessel under its 1930-31
program. In that time, Great Britain
falling 1880 tons; nine destroyers of
1885 tons and three submarine. with
an estimated total tonnage of 5000
France laid down one eight
cruiser of 10000 tons one mine-laying
cruiser. tonnage not given; six destroy
ers, totaling $4,000 tons; II submarines,
totaling 1925 tons. Italy laid down
one eight-inch cruiser of 10000 tons.
two six-inch-type cruisers, totaling TO-
500 tons: foglr destroyers, totaling 1880
tons, and % submarines, totaling 17,740
tons.
Against this country's IL destroyers,
representing its total warship construc-
ton for the 1882 program, Great
Britain laid down three six-inch-type
cruisers. totaling $4,000 tons; nine de-
stroyers with an estimated total tonnage
of 1875 and three submarines with
an estimated total tonnage of 5000
France has provided for one battleship
If $4,000 tons, permitted as replacement
but this has not been voted as yet and
she is likewise planning two six-inch-
type cruisers. totaling 1880 tons, and
probably destroyers and submarines. but
these have not been voted. Italy's 1881
80 program has not been published as
yet, the Navy Departments announce
ment said.
Figures Given In Japan.
The japanese press, about last De-
cenlber, the department said, reported
this 1876 building program for that
country:
Four e,5oo-ton light cruisers, first
line: II 1,4O0-ton destroyers, first line;
9 submarines, / nine-layer, 8 small
mine layers, torpedo boats and
mine-sweepers In addition, the an
are to be added.
The tables released by the Navy De-
partment show that in order to build
up to treaty strength by December 81,
1886 the United States should con-
struct:
Fifty-five thousand two hundred tons
of aircraft carriers, 10000 tons Of eight
inch-type cruisers, $1,000 tons Of six
inch-type cruisers, 100000 tons Of de-
Stroyers and 25,100 tons Of submarines.
Already. naval observers point out.
the United States has lost out" in
what it should build in 1880 and 1881