Evening star., 1938-03-07
NAVY PREPARING
TOSPEND$8,0)Q,0DO
New Dirigib|e and Mystery
Patrol Experiments
Are Planned.

~ the Associated Press.
The Navy is getting ready to spend
$8,000,O00 on experimental air and
surface craft, which some officials eye
obviously but nevertheless are eager
to try.
That sum is earmarked in the bill
Ion-dollar fleet expansion bill to build
. dirigible and swift mystery" coast
patrol boats recently developed by
foreign powers.
Concentrating on replacement Of
ageing battleships and other large
craft, the Navy heretofore has turned
Its back on the possibilities of mos
quito fleet" Oficers have called such
craft ill-suited to American defense
needs.
Senator Borah, Republican, of Idaho
declared in q statement last night,
however, that testimony before the
House Naval Committee left no doubt
the expansion program contemplated
something more than national de-
tense.
Every navy. Of any nation is al
ways for national defense said Mr..
Borah, senior Republican member Of
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee.
Every war in these times is for de-
Tense. The World War was for de-
fense on both sides Japan is now,
according to her statements, conduct
ing war against China in self de-
tense.
Il do not believe that this huge
spending program can be justified
upon any reasonable conception of
national defense. Mr.. Borah added.
declaring 1t was "a long step toward
world bankruptcy and possibly to-
ward war"
The bill probably will come before
the House late this week. Admins
tration lieutenants expressed certainty
the provision for experimental work
would be approved by both chambers
Roosevelt Asked Funds.
President Roosevelt asked for the
funds for tests of mosquito fleet, -
such as have been built by Britain,
Italy. Germany and France, arming
for possible sea warfare at close quar-
ters in European waters.
Italy is credited in naval circles
with more than 100 such craft, able tc
speed so miles or more an hour. Brit
tain is reported to have 78.
Whipping around when nearing
their target. some of these boats dis
charge two or four torpedoes from
the stern. They also carry depth
charges to combat submarines. Crews
vary from to 18 men,
The roaring little craft. larger and
heavier but otherwise similar to racing
motor boats, depend for protection on
their speed and agility. Critics say
they are too small to put far to sea
and too large to be carried aboard
wArships.
Though American strategy is based
on the long distance operations OF q
high seas fleet. officers said such boats
might be useful in protecting the
Panama Canal and various harbors.
Follow Experts Advice.
In favoring construction Of SO 3,0O0,-
900 dirigible to replace the Los
Angeles, the House Naval Committee
followed recommendations of a board
Of civilian experts named after
destruction in 1885 of the Macon.
The bill calls for a dirigible OF
100000 cubic feet The Macon and
her sister ship, the Akron. lost in 1898,
each had capacity of about 6,5OO.0OO
feet. Together they cost $4,000. 900.
The Nays Shenandoah cost $2,2OO,-
900 and the ZR-2 $l,O0O,OOO.
All crashed but the Los Angeles,
which was received on the war repara-
tions account from Germany and is
now idle at the Lakehurst, N. j., air
station.