The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-08
BILLIONS TO Be
SPENT ON u. S.
ARMY AND NAVY
Administration Goes Ahead
With Gigantic Defense
Building Program.

~ rrf.S Prep
WASHINGTON. March 8-The
United States Is rapidly building rs
Navy toward fun treaty strength
with prospects that IL VIII reach
that position within four years, Of
fetal figures disclosed today
A. the same time the Army ard
~ forces are being strongly rein
-orcrS
o-austic7 show IS ships already
.u.ser construction and plans
drafted 70 lay down p more var
craft within the next year
This information came on the
heels % Great Britain's announce
ment q sharp increases in military
and naval expenditures.
Naval authorities estimated total
cost n the fve-year building pro-
gram. begun last year. At $780,
$4,000. When the 1886 plans are
finished the Navy will Sfil 0e short
Of treaty strength BY "a ships.
Army to Spend Fortune
These huge Navy expenditures are
IN addition 70 ARMY plans % spend
approximately three-quarters Of =
billion dollars during the next
fiscal wear.
A large portion If the Army ex-
pendlture viii go TO buy fast fight
ing and bombing planes calculated
70 make the American Armv's air
strength as formidable as any in the
world.
The War Department budget. for
strictly military purposes. as re-
ported ont by the House Commit
tee on Military Affairs. calls for
S375 f74000. Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur and other general staff Off
GERS also wish s4O50O0OOO ear
marked from the Presidents 1890
100000 work fund for .mOderniza-
ton"
f67 New Planes for Army
The regular budget calls for pur-
chase Of 467 new planes for the
ARMY The proposed allotment from
the works fund would provide sew
eral hundred additional planes. go
ing far toward realization of the
Army goal Of 1920 fighting planes.
The 1896 budget estimates for the
Nav before the House ApprOpria-
ti0nS Committee call for total naval
expenditures OF $3.50 81 900. an in
crease OF s177,7730OO over the pre-
vious wear.
Principal provisions call for the
first mstalment on LAYING down "a
ships. consisting Of two light
cruisers. one aircraft carrier. three
heavy dcstroyers. u light lestroyers
and SIX submarines.
1000 Planes for Navy
II carries an airplane appropria-
ton OF $50 100000. OF which S22.-
10000 is for aircraft toward build
ing up the Nays air strength
from the present $50 planes TO
around 20O0
Tho ARMY appropriations call for
heavy expenditure on new anti
aircraft and coast defense arma-
ments- Separate bills have been
proposed 90 increase American air
bases IN Hawaii. Panama and Alas
ka at a cost Of S22OO0OOO
Army general staff officers con-
slider the greatest single strategiCal
stride made by the American army
in recent years was the creation
this wear of the CHG air force,
operating under its own command
ing officers who are responsible
directly 10 the chief Of staff.
Put Army on Wheels
This gives the American Army
for the first time in history an air
cavalry" Of formidable strength
Othe- provisions IN the 1886 naval
budget include increasing the en-
listed men by $500 TO 5000.
War Department plans viii liter
ally put the American Army on
wheels By one Of the most extern
sive motOrization and mechanical
ton programs III current military
history. The Army has already
spent nearly $4,000 in this pro
gram
The naval treaties. already de-
nounCed. expire Dec. 81. 1895. IN
less new naval treaties are nego-
tiated the sky VIII be the limit so
far as navies. Pacific Notifications.
bases. etc. are concerned after that