Evening star., 1938-10-16
Day October ~ Looms
As Most Popular in History
Intelligence Office Besieged by Public
Serving Agencies s-Budgets and
Defense Stir Interest.

October u will be by far the greatest
Navy Day the United States has ever
seen, present trends in popularity of
the Navy indicate.
The Office of Naval Intelligence is
swamped with requests from all over
the couptry-from the press, recruit
ing stations, naval inspectors, radio,
chambers of commerce and the COM
mandants of naval districts-for more
and more information about Navy
Day.
Comdr. Leland P. Lovette, in charge
Of public rela tions, Once of Naval In
tellisence. said yesterday his ofice is
putting out three times as much pub
licity material for Navy Day as ever
before
Public Defense Conscious.
Comdr. Lovette, whose job it is to
gauge public opinion on naval matters,
examined the causes for this three
fold increase in naval interest, and
found most important of all to be the
world race for armaments and bigger
ships
The American people, for this rea-
son, are becoming defense conscious
and are exhibiting an interest in their
first line of defense unprecedented
since the World War;" he said.
A second reason. Comdr. Lovette
said, is this country's largest peace
time naval authorization of over halt
billion dollars. Interest in this leg
islation was heightened by the frank
statement Of naval heads made by
Admiral William D. Leahy, chief of
Naval Operations, before Congress last
spring. Hundreds of editors wrote to
the ONCE Of Naval Intelligence re-
questing additional data on Admiral
Leahy and his words to Congress" he
added.
And now President Roosevelt has
said that the naval appropriation for
the fiscal year 1910 will need to be at
least $50, 100000 greater than that
for 1899, which is $3.50, ,155 ,244.85.
Because of this. every taxpayer in the
country has been made Navy con-
scious," Comdr. Lovette said.
Navy Frontage News.
Again, he pointed out, the Navy has
been front page" this year more than
at any other time since the war.
The Earhart search, Rear Admiral
Harry E. Yarnells trials and tribula-
tions in handling the Asiatic situation,
with the attendant refugee work and
the sinking of the U. S. S. Panay, are
examples. There also has been the
refugee work of Rear Admiral H. E.
Lackey. commander of Squadron 40
(T in Spanish waters. Great atten-
ton was paid to all OF. these in the
press and radio, as well as develop
ments on Capitol Hill and the recur-
rent European crises, which focused
the attention of the people on need
for Navy second to none"
Another factor is that the entire
United States Fleet will be in Atlantic
waters this year for feet problem 90.
to be held in the Caribbean the first
of the year. The fleet will also visit
the World Fair in New York.
And further, he said, there is the
actual dollar and cent interest in the
Navy. Increased naval construction
affects nearly every industry. The
money spent on a single ship is spread
to every corner of the Nation, directly
or indirectly. Also the coming East
Of the feet will mean a greatly in
creased business for commercial in
terests in the thickly- populated East
ern States.
Payday on q single cruiser sees
some $50, GOO made available for SPEND
ing, not to speak OF battleship.
Again. ships need large quantities OF
supplies, which are purchased at the
nearest market. Chambers OF COM
merce are aware Of this fact. he said.
Elaborate Plans Publicized.
With all this in view, the Navy De-
partment has assigned its best men
to write the publicity for use on the
Navy's one advertising day" Of the
year. Never before have such elab-
crate plans been made for the Nays
day at home" ~r s-&
The broadcasting companies espe-
cially are stressing Navy Day more
than ever, with the National Broad
casting Co. devoting its Magic Key
program to the Navy. On this pro-
gram Admiral Leahy win carry on con-
versattons with Admiral Yarnell In
China. Admiral Laekey In Spain, sub
marine commanders under the sea
q,