Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-02

Secretary Adams today was confer
ring with bureau chiefs of the Navy
Department with a view to slaShing the
Nays budget for the next fiscal year
by about $50, 0000o0 and it was learned
that this program tentatively contem-
plates the reduction of the service by
between 1000 and 1000 enlisted men
and the laying up of about one-ffth
OF the vessels. Under this schedule
1t was said that no officers are to be
released at this time.
While other savings will be effected
naval observers believe that the bulk
OF the slash will come in the drastic
reduction of enlisted personnel and the
decommiSsioning of large numbers Of
ships in order to save operating costs.
Naval statisticians figured out that at
the present time it is costing about
$500, 900 per day to keep the Navy
running ashore and af1oat.
Based on the suggested savings Of
100000, the cost Of operating the
service would be about S688 900 daily.
There are now $4,000 enlisted men in
the service.
Strength in Vessels.
The United States now has IL first
line battleshipS operating; second line
cruiser, U. S. S. Rochester; 10 light
cruisers, 8 heavy cruisers; airplene
carriers; l mine layer of the second
line, U. S. S. Oglala: 81 first line de-
stroyers; light mine layers: SIS sub
marines and fleet submarine of the
mine laying type, the U. S. S. Gar
gonaut; Is eagle boats; l8 submarine
chasers: 5 gunboats: river gunpoats;
converted yachts; destroyer tenders:
submarine tenders; 2 repair Ships 2
store ships; l ammunition ship. the U.
S. S. Nitro; aircraft tenders; 10 oilers:
cargo ships; transports | hospital
ship, the U. S. S. Relief; % ocean tugs;
70 mine Sweepers; submarine rescue
vessels; miscellaneous craft, and 10
unclaSsified ships.
The ships at present out of commits
sion include: Three mine layers, lO6
first line destroyers, 80 second line de-
stroyers, 10 light mine layers, IS first
line submarines, 10 eagle boats. sub
marine chaSerS, store Ships golfers.
9 oilers, cargo ships, l hospital ship,
destroyer tenders, submarine tend
erS, ammunition ship. IL ocean tugs.
l repair ship, mine Sweepers and 10
unclaSsifled ships.
1t is presumed that the contemplated
decommiSSionipg would hit various
types of vessels and that many of them
would be laid up at Philadelphia and at
San Diego, Calf
officials pointed out that the Navy
could not depend upon the loss in en-
listed personnel through the hating Of
recruiting activities, should the figure
between 1000 and 1000 reduction finally
be decided upon. Some other method
would have to be arranged. as the Ma
rine Corps reduction of 1900 to 10000,
while going on now for several months
will not reach the desired figure until
the middle Of next month and this has
been accomplished largely through the
stopping of recruiting.
Secretary Adams conference today
with the bureau chiefs was planned to
give each rear admiral an opportunity
to indicate where further savings might
be made in his bureau. The reduced
cost of foodstuffs and clothing had been
taken into consideration, 1t is said when
the 1888 budget totaling $401 100000
was put up to President Hoover. The
current fiscal years budget is $780,
900 900. and of this $50 0OO,0 600 is for
construction of new vessels and the
continuing of building those previously
started. This means that the Navy at
this time is operating its vessels and
shore stations on budget of $3l0,-
000,000 One-fifth of this would be
s62 900, 900, and this figure is the one
naval officials at todayS conference will
have in mind as the economy goal.
Plans Under Consideration.
High naval officials have under con-
sideration numerous plans for the eff
fecting of the saving, and these are
being discussed at today's session. The
basis of the plan will be a program that
has been worked out by Admiral Will
liam v. Pratt, chief of naval operations,
| who has just returned from the West
Coast, following an inspection trip.
While naval officials are seriously
| considering the f1eet-reduction policy
program, it is known that for a long
time the Navy Department has en-
! deavored to have eliminated a number
! of shore stations that are now consid-
| cred obsolete. Political pressure, how
ever, has withstood the wiping of of
these stations, which include Charles
ton, S. c.; Philadelphia, Boston, South
Charlestown, w. Va; Key West, Fla,
and New Orleans. The closing of these
old stations would effect many millions
OF dollars in economies, in the belief
Of naval authorities.