Evening star., 1938-03-06
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.


the building OF her oUn sea force.
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.
The Roosevelt Sl,l2l, $4,000 naval
authorization bill, designed to give the
Nation adequate defense, is defended
In comprehensive report made public
last night by Chairman Vinson of the
House Naval Affairs Committee.
The need for proposed naval ex-
pansion is woven into an historical
sketch of naval building, here and
abroad, since the days of the Wash
ington Naval Limitation Conference,
in 1922. Chairman Vinson showed
not only that the United States had
been permitted to lag behind It's
treaty strength" while other naval
powers maintained theirs but that
other naval powers, since the expira-
tion of the naval limitation treaties,
both Washington and London, have
built and are building far in excess
OF the former limits.
Speaking in the report for the ma
Jority Of the committee which has
approved the bill, 20 to 3. Chairman
Virson insists that the naval program
is for defense only. There is not an
ounce of aggression in it, he says.
Most Powerful Weapons.
The chairman sets forth at con-
siderable length the reasons for con-
tinuing the construction of battle
ships on the ground that they are the
most powerful weapons of the Navy.
This argument is designed to counter
act the expected onslaught of aircraft
proponents when debate gets under
way
The bill authorizes the construc-
fion of 46 combatant ships, 8 battle
ships. 2 aircraft carriers, 9 cruisers,
% destroyers and submarines, at an
estimated cost of S73l ,095 900. 1t also
authorizes the construction of %
auxiliary vessels, S destroyer tenders,
3 submarine tenders. seaplane tend
ers darge), 7 seaplane tenders (smalD
and 3 repair ships, at an estimated
cost of $246. .451 900.
1t authorizes the purchase of $50
airplanes at a cost of $l06,000, 900.
There is authorization, too, for equip
ment and facilities at navy yards for
building ships at an estimated cost Of
S8.000,000: for an expenditure of
sl5,000,000 for experimental purposes,
including one lighter -than-air craft
and $l5,000,000 for contract authori-
cation.
Debate Begins Thursday.
The naval bill is to be taken up
In the House Thursday, when general
debate is expected to begin. On Tues
day Chairman Vinson will appear
before the House Rules Committee to
ask for a special rule for the bills
consideration, and he expects to get it.
A minority report, attacking the bill
and giving the views of Representa-
tives Church of Illinois, Brewster of
Maine and Cole of New York, all Re-
publicans, will be filed in the House
tomorrow.
Notwithstanding the persistent at
tacks of various peace organizations
on the naval building program, indi-
cations are that the bill will be ap-
proved by the House by large ma
jority. Its opponents are talking Of
polling 100 to $50 votes. The debate
is expected to bring an attack on the
administrators foreign policy and
charge that the bill is not for defense,
but policy measure. The division
over the bill is not along party lines,
for many of the opponents are Pro-
presSives and Democrats
Expects Prompt Action.
After the bill is passed by the House,
it will go to the Senate, where Chair
man Walsh of the Senate Naval Affairs
Committee expects prompt and favor
able action. Because of lengthy hear
ings before the House committee, the
Senate committees hearings will be
comparatively brief. Opponents are
basing what hopes they have on the
Senate. However, the prediction was
made last night that the Senate also
would vote the bill after a searching
debate
In special message on national
defense the President on January %
recommended to Congress that "the
existing authorized building program
for increases and requirements IN the
Navy be increased by 20 per cent"
He also recommended that Congress
authorize s15,000,000 for the con-
struction of number of new types of
small naval vessels, experimental in
nature. The bill is the answer to his
request.
There is nothing in this program
that will permit of aggressive action,
or OF projecting an attack against the
lsA. ~ A IIX po ro a .