Evening star., 1935-04-28
Building Up the Navy.

The House has voted oVerWhelm-
ingly. to build up the American Navy
to treaty strength. There is to be
no more of the hesitation and dis
inclination to build vessels deemed
necessary for the national defense
characteristic of congressional and
administration dealings with the Navy
during the last dozen years. 1t is
expected that the Senate will follow
the lead of the House and that the
administration plans for bringing the
strength Of the Navy to point where
it will be second to none will be
approved.
America is not planning wars. 1t is
not looking ahead to aggreSsions upon
foreign territory. 1t is merely intent
upon placing itself in a condition Of
defense. If there is to be war in
which the United States is not pri-
marily involved-as there was in
1914-no step could be taken which
would make it more easy to avoid
being drawn into war than the de-
velopment of an adequate and strong
Navy.
The naval appropriation bill which
has just passed the House calls for a
total expenditure during the coming
fiscal year of $457 ,8O5,26l. This is an
increase Of nearly sl50,000,O00 over
the appropriations for the current
year, although nearly $3O,0OO,000 less
than the sum recommended in the
budget. The items in the bill are de-
signed to build up both the number of
vessels and the personnel Of the Navy.
The measure authorizes the conStruc-
ton of twenty-four new vessels, which
include one aircraft carrier, two light
cruisers, three destroyers over $500
tons, twelve destroyers not over 1900
tons and six submarines. The sum
appropriated for commencing this new
building is S29,380,0OO, or one-half of
the amount recommended in the bud
get. The Navy, however, will have
total of $208, 900 available for ex-
penditure on ship construction during
1886, of which the much greater part
is for the continuation of construction
already authorized and begun.
The Naval Affairs Committee of the
House, in reporting the bill, expressed
hope that the projected naval limi-
tation conference during the coming
year would find it possible to agree on
some further limitation Of tonnage.
For that reason, it was explained, the
committee cut the initial appropriation
recommended for new building.
Nevertheless. the administration is
given a free hand to go ahead with
this new construction if it deems wise
A supplemental appropriation would
be necessary early in the next session
of Congress.
The plans for upbuilding the Navy
include SIS new airplanes and an ad-
dition to personnel of 1l,677 officers
and men. Each Senator and Repre-
sentative has four appointments to
the Naval Academy instead OF three,
as at present. The appropriations for
airplanes indicate clearly that the air
defenSeS are to be materially strength
ened. OF the 555 planes to be OBJ
tained, 2S2 are to replace losses in
cident to crashes and old age during
the fiscal year 1887, and 273 are to be
added to the 1,193 now on hand and
in sight out of available funds. The
plans contemplate the attainment of
1000 planes by 1940-42.
How backward the United States
was in building up its Navy since
the Washington naval limitation
treaty in 1922, up to and including
the year Of the London Treaty, 1880,
is clearly shown when it is pointed
out that during that period America
laid down only 81 vessels, while Great
Britain was laying down 86 and
Japan 125. Work is now under way
on Al vessels for the Navy, authorized
more recently. The United States set
out to lead the world by example
into the camp of arms limitation.
However laudable the purpose, it has
proved futile policy. 1t has necessi-
tated a greater building program to-
day and greater appropriations than
if there had been an orderly and reg
ular program for a treaty Navy.