Evening star., 1934-02-11
BY OWEN L. SCOTT.

gency action and legislation in Wash
ington is an impending statement OF
American Naval policy, accompanied
by Naval building program, that
Will give the United States sea force
as powerful as any in the world.
That statement of policy, in the
form of an act of Congress, will de-
clare this country's intention to build
Navy as large as is permitted by
the agreements reached in Washing
ton back in 1922 and in London in
1890. 1t will also declare the inten-
ton Of the United States to keep Its
Navy at the full allowed strength.
In accordance with this new policy,
the President is to be authorized to
undertake construction Of q large
complement Of ships.
It is described as the first formal
declaration of permanent Naval policy
in the country's history. 1t is to usher
In the most ambitious naval building
program since war days and place the
Navy in the most enviable position it
has occupied since the presidency Of
Theodore Roosevelt.
IICP1 CoCllldIlNC SdIl Fl1SOll vi
Georgia, chairman Of the House Naval
Affairs Committee, is fathering the
legislation. His bill already has passed
the House and is favorably reported
for early action in the Senate. 1t has
the backing Of President Roosevelt.
X y
Just at this time, when the coun-
try Is about to embark on a definite
program of Naval construction, there
are many events that serve to center
attenti 4 on the Navy.
There Is the troubled situation in
the Pacific, with Japan and Russia
at odds. and the British uneasy over
the sparks that might fly. There is
the fact that for four years not a
single ship was authorized for the
American Navy. There is the demand
of the japanese for a navy as large
as either the British or the American
fleets. There Is the approaching
Naval Limitation Conference to be
held in 1885. when the Japanese de-
mands are expected to be made. There
is the report of a Japanese admiral
that the navy Of Japan is stronger
LOW IIldIl tllc AllleIlCdIl NAVY III SuD~
marines and destroyers.
Into that situation the United
States now will inject a statement Of
national policy that asserts its inten-
ton to build ship for ship and gun
for gun with any country. To carry
out its policy, the country may be
called upon to spend between S400,-
100000 and $500, 100000 year. That
would support an enlarged personnel,
a building program for ships and air.
planes and the regular operation of
the Navy.
The United States thus ceases its
effort to induce other countries to re-
duce naval armament by following the
American example. That effort started
back in 1922, when, at the Washington
Conference. this country agreed to
scrap eleven OF the worlds most pow
erful ships then under construction
and to destroy twenty other ships al
ready built. Later America refrained
from building up to the strength al
lowed by treaty.
+ X ~
Officials emphasize that the United
States still favors limitation of navies
by agreement. They say there is no
desire or intention to engage in q
naval construction race. There only Is
a determination that II an agreement
Is reached on the relative strength of
the worlds navies, this country will
build u, to the strength agree upon.
To carry out the new naval policy
many things are happening and many
more are planned
Already 50 ships are building. They
involve q tonnage Of z2,061. OF this
number 81 ships with a tonnage OF
1873 1000 are being constructed out OF
an allotment of 100000 made to
the Navy by the public works fund
This Is the first outlay in q program
that will extend over the next five
years. At the end Of that time the
United States will have built or build
ing all of the ships which 1t Is allowed
under the limitation treaties. 1t also
will have built an additional 1888
airplanes.
As things now stand, the United
States is authorized to have 1,186.000
tons of Naval vessels It actually has
s4 ships totaling 7O8,55o tons that are
under the age limit set by the treaties
Great Britain is authorized to have
/ POI 100 tons and has 975,000, in
137 ships. Japan is authorized to
have 1888 ,05o tons and has 656,125.
Under construction by the United
States are So ships Of 222,o61 tons.
Great Britain has Al under construc'
ton, totaling 124,135 tons. and Japan
has As under construction totaling
123132. When these ships are COM
pleted the japanese navy will be up
to full treaty strength.
To bring the United States Navy TO
the same position this country will
need not only to complete the vessels
now being built, but to build 102
more. These will consist Of IS de-
stroyers, 1 airplane carrier. 80 sub
nsrineH and q crpiserk Now being