Evening star., 1932-12-25
IBID ON CRUISER
DROPSQ,1Q,oO
Navy Officers Hopeful of Bar
gains to Speed Up Needed
Vessels.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Bargain construction bids for the
latest warship has aroused Navy OH
GERS hopes for some action soon de-
signed to meet the United States urgent
needs in destroyers.
The lowest bid for 10,000-ton cruiser.
offered by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding
Corporation Of Quincy, Mass. was 81
$50 COO less than a contract for the
same type ship, the Tuscaloosa, awarded
q year ago.
In naval circles the Bethlehem ofier
to build the CA-39 for 81, 1876 900 caused
pleasant surprise. This estimate was
81 ,329 900 under the next lowest bid
Of Staten Island, N. Y. and acted as q
stimulant to naval oficers who have
been worried over what they consider
neglect of the Government building
program.
Admiral William v. Pratt, chief OF
naval operations. contends that the
most serious condition with which the
Navy Is confronted today Is that con-
corning destroyers.
Sc Destroyers to Pass.
At a Budget Bureau hearing relative
to the Governments new economy pro-
fleet, the admiral emphasized that at
the present time there are 86 destroyerS
prepared for IN emergency. but that
all of these vessels vecome obsolete
within the next two years.
Eight destroyers are now being built
and four others are to be started carry
in 1898 under the emergency fund for
unemployment. When completed these
II new vessels would approximate 10000
tons. while by treaty rights the United
States is entitled to 10000 tons.
With the expiration of the London
treaty at the end of 1886 provided no
additional ships are laid down. the
United States destroyer tonnage would
total but 10000, as all ships OF that de-
sign now in use would be over Rge, &C
cording to treaty terms. at the end of
1894. Under the same conditions when
the London treaty expires Great Britain
will have a tonnage of $4,000 in de-
stroyers while Japan will top the list
with $4,000 tons.
Admiral Pratt characterizes Amer
ica's position in the matter Of destroy
e-s as rather embarrassing
He does not look" for any trouble
within the next few year,. but If an
emergency should arise where the feet
is concerned Il should be very sorry,
he said. at a recent interview
Before the Washington treaty came
into effect navies were operated upon 2
competitive basis" he pointed out, "and
the United States was compelled to
keep up with others. That was very
expensive and there was always more
or less suspicion among the powers. The
Washington conference was designed to
reduce armaments and expenses and to
- t0,,,
n1ents always thought it was our
obligation to keep up to the ratios thus
set as we'll as to keep within them. 1t
seems that gives us better chance to
keen pace with the others.
Il believe the proper course would be
to map out an orderly building pro-
gram to adhere strictly to treaty limits.
The United States hasn't any such
program. In fact, we have no program
It all"
Cruiser and Treaty Strength.
The new heavy cruiser to be laid
down after March l upon expiration of
the naval building holiday will keep the
United States up to her treaty strength
in ships Of this kind. In addition. the
Government has two other cruisers al
ready authorized, but under the treaty
terms these may not be completed be-
fore 1887 and 1888 The cruiser for
which bids opened last week in Wash
ington may be finished in 1896. bring
ing this country up to treaty parity in
The cruiser line
But. naval officers stress. Washing
ton lags far behind in the matter Of
light cruisers having a total tonnage Of
TO 600 while entitled to 140 900 tons ac-
cording to treaty terms.
High naval officers have recently
called the attention of Congress to the
fact that the light cruiser strength is
only half way up to parity compared