Evening star., 1936-11-08
AUXILIARY SHIPS
HELD NAVY'S NEED
Service Hampered by Lack
of Proper Vessels, Swan
son Reports.

The American Navy is hampered
by a lack of proper auxiliary vessels
for servicing, Secretary Swanson yes
terday revealed in his annual report
to President Roosevelt for the fiscal
year ended last June. Navy yards
and stations need modern and effi-
cient equipment to keep pace with
construction, and the service will re-
ouire some 1000 officers additional
to man the treaty Navy, Swanson
said.
The Navy is upon a high plane in
efficiency. in spirit and in co-ordinated
effort" Swanson said.
Legislation is greatly needed to
give authorization for an adequate
continuing plan Of improvement in
fleet auxiliary vessels" he said. I'm
time of war the vast auxiliary service
which would be essential to the proper
support of the feet would be formed
mostly from merchant ships Of the
appropriate types. These are, however,
not available for the supply and
seryicing of the peace-time fleet. Nor
can they in time of war replace cer-
tain types of auxiliary vessels, which,
due to the specialized nature of the
services they render, must be of spe-
cial design and must have the neces-
sary speed and endurance to accom-
pany fleet movements.
Most of the present auxiliary yes
sells of the fleet are old and deficient
in. the characteristics required for
giving completely effective peace-time
service and for performing wartime
functions for which substitutes will
not serve. 1t is urgently necessary to
replace with modern vessels those
which are now old and unfit and to
add a moderate number of new ships
OF specialized types. 1t is hoped that
authorization types. 1t is hoped that
the accomplishment of an orderly plan
having this end in view"
Legislation Held Favorable.
With a strike prevalent in American
shipping, these words of Secretary
Swanson took on added meaning:
"In connection with the Nays need
for greatly augmented auxiliary sup
port in time of war, the merchant
marine legislation enacted during the
past year is expected to provide the
basis for a development favorable
to the requirements of the national
defense as to the economic we'll
being of our country as whole.
The importance to our general welfare
and security of a strong, well-designed
and well-established merchant marine
cannot be overestimated.
THE construction and fitting out Of
new naval vessels which has been
under way during the year has been
handicapped and delayed by number
of causes. many of them beyond the
control of the Navy Department. The
navy yards and stations, which carry
q large part of the construction load,
are much in need of modern and
efficient equipment for this work"
Secretary Swanson called attention
to the death Of his Assistant Secre-
tary, the late Col. Henry Latrobe
Roosevelt, whose services were of
inestimable value in the administra-
ton of the Navy Department" he
said, and pointed out that "the pur-
pose of our Government to bring the
Navy to full treaty strength in under
age vessels Of the combatant cate
gories which are limited by the Wash
ington Q922) and London 0930)
agreements has been brought meas
urably nearer to accomplishment" He
said the additional vessels provided
for by the 1887 appropriation act are
IL destroyers and submarines, all to
be built as requirements for existing
vessels which are already over age or
which will become so before compile
tion of the new units"
Urges Continued Program.
Swanson recalled that "the same
appropriation act provides for begin
ming construction Of not more than
two capital ships in 1887 as replace
ments for over-age vessels of this
category, but these ships are to be
laid down only in the event that cap
ital-ship replacement construction is
commenced by any one Of the other
signatories to the London treaty Of
$780, He declared that maximum
economy as well as the greatest ef-
fectiveness of the fleet" will be at
tanned if needed additions and re-
placements are undertaken in a con-
tinuing program without lapses, which
would lead to subsequent hurried ac-
celerations in building"
Pointing to "the high standard set
by our naval aviation" Secretary
Swanson said that formulation of the
Navy's policy with regard to lighter
than-air craft awaits further study
OF all aspects Of the present situation
and mature consideration Of the re-
ports Of the special committee of the
Science Advisory Board, which has
been making an analysis of the SUBJ
ject and has submitted a partial re-
port"
:. The "modernization of fleet radio
material has progressed according to
o continuing plan," he said, adding
many deficiencies still exist which
p. should be corrected as rapidly as the
radio art progresses and funds permit"
Officer Personnel Inadequate.
OF personnel, Swanson had this to
say: The situation with respect to
oficer personnel is not as favorable as
that with regard to enlisted personnel.
. Studies indicate that 7,941 line officers
> are necessary to man fully the treaty
Navy now authorized and building.