Evening star., 1938-02-23
Maneuvers
Continued From First Page

IN the Atlantic would include IL bat
tleships, 6 aircraft carriers, II heavy
.crVisers, ID. light cruisers, II de-
stroyers and So submarines.
The 20 per cent increase in naval
strength being studied by the COM
mittee would give the Navy only three
more battleships and brings its tota!
in this category to l8.
Committee Chairman Vinson told
reporters neither the administration
nor the Navy was giving any consid-
Grafton to a separate Atlantic fleet.
If we maintain the 5-5-3 ratio" the
chairman said, lit is sufficient to oe-
fend both coasts from attack by any
single power"
Admiral Du Bose testified a build
Ing program OF such magniture would
necessitate an immense expansion OF
the building facilities at all shipyards,
both private and Government-oWned.
He said last week all Navy Yards
would require additional facilities to
complete the 20 per cent increase IN
reasonable" time, and that yard i'm
provements would cost from $4,000, 900
= to $S,O0O,000 at each yard.
Admiral Du Bose's testimony was
received when the committee resumed
hearings to inquire into the cost of an
additional 1000 airplanes.
The Navy already is authorized to
acquire approximately 1000 planes
the number considered necessary for a
fleet built up to the limits of the
abandoned Washington and London
arms treaties.
Billion Dollar Cost.
The administration proposes to give
the Navy 1000 extra sky fighters,
which would raise the cost of the
bigger-Navy program to well over
$1,000, ,00O, 900.
Admiral Dubose already has esti-
mated the Government would have to
spend s877. 100000 for the Al COM
hatant vessels and % auxliaries pro-
posed in bill by Chairman Vinson,
Democrat, Of Georgia, of the Naval
Commiteee.
Should additional auxiliaries be built
in line with recommendations Of Ad-
miral Leahy, Admiral Dubose said the
shipbuilding program alone would cost
. =. .050 000, 600.
Some members of Congress have in
dicated they might attempt to obtain
an authorization for fewer battleships
and more aircraft.
Their efforts have revived argu-
ments on whether planes or ships are
more effective in modern warfare.
Could Infiict Damage.
Admiral Leahy has testified that a
battleship could be destroyed from
: above provided it is hit often enough
in the right places" but that it could
infiict terrific losses" on the attack
ing aircraft while the bombing was in
progress.
Currently, the Navy has estimated
1t would require 900 bombing planes
to discharge the same amount of ex-
plosives as battleship.
Since the life of battleship Is 26
years and that Of a plane six years,
Navy officials figure that comparative
aircraft strength would be IA times
as costly as battleships.
Aircraft proponents have suggested
that modern science will be able to
keep airplanes up to date more cheaply
than will ever be possible in the case
Of dreadnaughts. They pointed to
losses incurred in scrapping obsolete
ships.
What the Army and Navy think Of
the ..aerial. mine" Of Lester p. Barlow,
Stamford, Conn, inventor. has not
been disclosed. Army onnciais during
the World War gave little encourage
ment to his projected flying torpedo. !"
with which he asserted I'VE can hit
Chicago 50 times . minute from Wash.
ington."