Evening star., 1938-03-22
HUGE NAVY CRITICS
PLAN HOT BATTLE
Senators Forecast Measure
Will Open Debate on
Foreign Policy.

BACKGROUND
The billion dollar ndp1l erpdn-
sion bin, approved BY the House
yesterday, Represents the first n1ope
on the part OF this country to re-
store its national detenses to an
effective basis, an objective that
Das dllowed to lapse during erist-
ence OF armament restriction trea-
ties. The measure authorizes con-
struction OF As iDarships, 70 dur-
tltdry Oessels and $50 fighting
planes.
BY the Associated Press
The administrations naval expan-
sion bill, outspoken critics indicated
today. will become a vehicle for far
reaching Senate debate on foreign
policy. neutrality and national de-
fense.
Senate opponents of the bill, which
the House passed yesterday, 1872 to 100,
are led by Senators Borah, Republican
Of Idaho, and La Toilette, Progressive,
Of Wisconsin. They were expected
to decide on their strategy soon after
disposal Of the Government reorgan-
ization bill.
Senator La Toilette, calling the pro-
jected 81, 1,1o0,000000 expenditure for
new ships "preposterous." criticized
particularly the proposal OF naval ex-
perts to develop fleets capable of de-
Tending the United States on both
coasts at the same time.
I'VE seem suddenly to have discov-
cred the Atlantic Ocean," he COM
mented. Il always thought it was an
asset from defense standpoint. but
now it seems that it Is a liability
which is silly"
Calls Program Insane"
Senator Nye, Republican, of Forth
Dakota, said the big Navy" bill was
warlike and would call for "the most
insane program that could be pur-
sued"
Chairman Pittman, Democrat. of
Nevada, Of the Senate Foreign Rela-
tions Committee, said, however, there
was no doubt that the bill would pass
in virtually the same form as 1t was
approved by the House. He added:
The United States hasn't any
partners among the nations, doesn't
want any partners. Because of that,
we must be prepared to make other
nations afraid to attack us. It's the
cheapest kind of peace insurance"
Hull Decries Bombings.
Secretary Hull gave renewed en-
phaSis to this mo alliance" attitude
yesterday in statement deploring
bombardment of non-combatants by
tnsurgent forces in Spain. He issued
it independently of a similar appeal
made jointly by France and Great
Britain.
Senator Norris, Independent, of Ne
braska told reporters he had "modi-
fed" his previous opposition to in
creasing naval armaments because CT
unsettled world conditions, but ex-
pressed belief the pending bill goes
too far"
As approved by the House, the
measure carried no funds for con-
structlon, but President Roosevelt
has recommended that work be start
ed on two Of the three battleships 1t
would authorize and on two of the
nine cruisers.
Four to Six Years.
Naval officials estimated 1t would
require from four to six years to carry
out the program, provided Congress
makes the money available.
In addition to the battleships and
cruisers, the bill would authorize $50
airplanes, two aircraft carriers, %
destroyers. nine submarines, five de-
stroyer tenders. three submarine tend
ers, IL seaplane tenders and three re-
pair ships.
Approval Of the huge armament
program came from Chairman Nc
Reynolds. Democrat, Of Tennessee, Of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
who declared in radio address last
night that 'dictators will be fighting
among themselves" soon. He added
that passage Of the naval expansion
bill was an example of wise prepara-
ton for any contingency.
Military Appropriations Debate.
Opposition to the naval program,
he said, was based primarily on the
'preposterous" supposition President
Roosevelt and Secretary Hull would
use the expanded feet for aggression
or enter into secret agreements with
Great Britain to police the world.
The House, having got the Navy
measure out Of the way, will start de-
bate tomorrow on q measure appro-
priating money for military expendi-
lures of the War Department.