Evening star., 1937-02-18
ADMIR-. R.LEAHYH|NTS
NEW BATTLESH|PS
British 81, 500, 900, 900 Plan
May Force Building of
Three by U. S.

Construction Of three new battle
ships to keep the United States Navy
equal to that of Great Britain was
seen today as a possibility. after COM
ment by Admiral William D. Leahy,
Chief of Naval Operations. highest
ranking officer in the service, on
London's $7,500,000.OOO five-year
naval building program.
Admiral Leahy made it clear Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Secretary Swan
son will decide on the steps to be
taken and said the naval supply bill,
now before Congress, will not be de-
layed. Recommendation by the Navy
will await notification by the British
government Of its plans
1T is fair presumption that If
any other power expands its feet, the
United States may find 1t necessary
to do likewise" declared the admiral
at press conference yesterday.
Unofficial information reaching
Washington is that the British pro-
pose to lay the keels Immediately for
three new battleships, seven cruisers
and two aircraft carriers.
Recalls American Tradition.
Admiral Leahy recalled the Ameri-
can tradition of having "a Navy
second to none" He said: 1T must
be noted that the British thus far
have actually done no more than we
have or plan to do in battleship con-
struction'
Under the present program of the
Roosevelt administration the Navy ex-
poets to reach its quota, set out under
the London naval treaty, by 1912.
Appropriations are now shaped to that
end. Uncle Sam is preparing to lay
down the keels Of two new battleships
this Summer and invitations to bid
are already in the hands of contractors
and navy yards are making estimates
on what it would cost them to con-
struct the latest fighting equipment.
England laid the keels of two new
battleships recently and this actuated
the United States to do likewise.
Admiral Leahy said that the Navy
will study the situation thoroughly.
after it has received official informa-
ton from London, and will make its
recommendations to President Roose-
welt. The understanding is that the
United States will not attempt to
equal Great Britain in cruisers, as
England's requirements are held to
be peculiar. due to her far-fiung en-
pire, requiring more cruisers than
this country.
Britain Building 50 Warships.
Great Britain now has under con-
struction SO warships, totaling 321. $40
tons, and with the new program to be
launched she would have the largest
navy in the world, officials here be-
lieve. Being built or in contemplation
are "a American warships, aggregating
355,215 tons, while Japan, with 81
warshipS under construction, totaling
80, 1874 tons, possesses 1872 warships of
734,6 tons. Great Britain mas 279
warships, aggregating 1,192,103 tons,
while the United States has 3o5 war
ships, totaling 1.046,475 tons.
One Interpretation placed upon
Great Britain's current building move
is that it is taken to frighten Italy
and Germany in an effort to bring
them into a. new naval pact
Last years naval treaty recognized
the parity of the United States fleet
with that of Great Britain. One OF
the things that Is puzzling officials
here is whether London's decision to
build three battleships represents the
need Of replacements or entirely new
construction. If merely requirements,
naval authorities here are not exer-
cised, but If the battleships form q
stepping out on a building boom in
warships, then the American Govern
ment will give the matter close atten-
ton. officials said.