Evening star., 1935-11-22
PRESIDENT TO ADD.
.4,400 MEN TO NAVY.
Shapes Budget to Boost
Personnel Regardless
of London Farley.
BY ]. RUSSELL YOUNG.

WARM SPRINGS, Ga, November
22-President Roosevelt announced
here today he will increase the per-
sonnet of the Navy by 4,400 men, ir-
respective of what the outcome of the
London Naval Conference.
Mr.. Roosevelt has intimated several
times recently that he had this in
mind, but this is the first time he has
made definite statement.
Mr.. Roosevelt said provision Is be-
ing made to boost the Navy personnel
in the 1936-37 budget. on which he
is working. up to the 100000 author
lied in the Vinson Navy bill BY do
ing this. the President said. the Navy
will be assured of always having an
average strength of $4,000. The pres
ent average is $4,000.
Cost Is S4,000,o00 Annually.
The cost of bringing the Navy per-
sonnel up to the full authorized
strength, Mr.. Roosevelt estimated
would be about S4.OO0,00O annually.
In revealing this much about the
Navy budget today the President
stated that no provision is being made
now for new battleships to replace
obsolete vessels. This part of the Navy
program. he intimated. will await ac-
ton by the London Naval Conference
Mr.. Roosevelt pointed out that the
modern destroyers require more men
than the destroyers of several years
ago because of their size. The new
ships require 200 men, the old ves-
sells ITO.
Budget Nearing Completion.
Mr.. Roosevelt said Sc expects to have
the Navy budget estimates completed
before the end of next week. Daniel
Bell, acting director of the budget. and
Representative Buchanan of Texas,
chairman of the House Committee on
Appropriations, will visit him next
Monday to assist him in completing
this task, as well as to decide other
budget problems.
With Navy estimates out of the way,
the President will direct his attention
to the budget for the District of Colum-
bia. He would give no intimation to-
day what would be the fate of the
estimates submitted by the District
Commissioners. He said he had not
yet even glanced at these figures.
There will be one more departmental
budget to work on after he has COM
pleted the Districts, but he could not
recall offhand which department.
President Takes Swim.
The President held his press confer
ence just before noon today, sitting in
the old automobile he operates himself
on his visits to Warm Springs. The
day was mild and sunny. He was
hatless and wore no vest.
Mr.. Roosevelt was on his way to the
pool for an hours swim. He said he
hopes to enjoy an hour of this sport
each day during his stay. He init
mated that after luncheon he would
motor to his 1,000-acre farm in the
hills miles from here.
Village Band Turns Out.
The President arrived here at 4 pm.
yesterday. Several hundred natives of
Warm Springs village and nearby
towns, as well as officials and patients
from the Warm Springs Foundation.
were at the station. The village band
was there, too.
President Roosevelt was especially
enthusiastic over the quick mail
service he is receiving. Turning to
this correspondent, he said that air
mail made it possible for him to
receive yesterdays edition of The
Evening Star at about 8 o'clock last
night. He added that it was great
to get his Star the same day of publi-
cation this far away from Washing
ton.
Mr.. Roosevelt denied reports in
newspapers that Postmaster General
Farley would join him here for a con-
ference.