Evening star., 1932-10-25
NAVY ASKS BIDS
ON HEAVY CRUISER
10,000-Ton, 8-Inch Ship to
Be Built, to Keep to
Treaty Strength.

The Navy intends to start work next
year on a 10,000-ton, 8-inch gun cruiser
to keep the United States up to its
treaty strength in that type of war
vessel.
Bids were invited on such a vessel
yesterday. the cost to be approximately
$1I600,000 and completion by 1886.
That will give the United States 16
cruisers of this type. Under the Lon
don Treaty the seventeenth can be start
in 1884 and the eighteenth in 1885.
In making the announcement, Sec
retary Adams of the Navy Department
said work on the new cruiser would
not begin until March l, if the four
months extension of the years naval
building holiday becomes effective.
The United States recently announced
its willingness to continue the holiday
provided other Signatory nations co the
same. 1t was to have expired Novem-
Der l.
Will OLen Bids December IA.
Adams explained the bid on the new
cruiser were invited before the State
Department made known its position
toward the naval construction holiday.
They are to be oper ed here on Decem-
Der IA.
The contract will be let to a private
shipbuilding company The law requires
that the construction of the cruisers
alternate between government and prl-
yate yards The last contract went to
a government yard.
The United States now has eight
10000-ton cruisers in commission-the
Pensacola. Salt Lake City. No-thamp-
ton, Chester Louisville, Chicago Hous-
ton and Augusta.
In addition seven are under con-
struction, the New Orleans, Portland,
Astoria, Indianapolis, Minneapolis. Tus-
CalOOSa and San Francisco. The In
Gianapolis is to be commissioned with
in a few davs.
At the present time this country has
built, building or appropriated for IT,
300 tons of cruisers. The London
treaty authorized 10000 tons, but car
ries an 18-vessel limitation.
Great Britain, Navy Department rec
ords show. has 10 heavy cruisers of
1866 tons She is limited by treaty
to 1468OO but two vessels are to be
scrapped in 1886.
Japan at Treaty Limit.
Japan has II heavy cruisers of 104.-
400 tons-the exact amount she is per-
mitted by treaty.
When the London treaty expires at
tne end OF 1850, the recOrdS snow tne
United States will have $4,000 tons,
Great Britain 144,260 and Japan
108400.
In light cruisers 5OO-ton, 6-inch
gun vessels-the United States has TO-
500 tons built. building or appropriated
for. She is allowed las 500 by treaty.
Great Britain has 10000 tons and
Is allowed 192,200, while Japan has
115,455 and is permitted 100,450.
Both Great Britain and Japan are
over quota in some categories. but it is
said at the Navy Department this will
be adjusted in time.
The United States, in the disarma-
ment conferences at which she has
been represented. has stood out for the
right to build heavy cruisers, contend
ing they are necessary because of the
few American naval bases, which neces-
state long trips. Great Britain, with
a large number of bases, has favored
Light cruisers.
The new heavy cruiser is the only
vessel which the naval construction hol-
iday continuance would affect. Other
vessels being built by this country are
an aircraft carrier, two submarines and
eight destroyerS.