Evening star., 1938-02-04
INDICATES
TALK WITH BRITISH
BY NAVAL OFFICIAL
Admiral Implies Chief Of War
Plan Division Conferred
in London.
SEES FORCE INCAPABLE
OF DEFENDING COASTS
Flatly Refuses to Answer CUES
tion on Capt. 1ngersoll's
Visit Abroad.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Actual and threatened aoores-
sions by seperal nations haze forced
uirtually every important po,Uer in
the ,Oorld into record programs of
armament expenditures. PENDING
before House Naval Committee is
$500, ,o00. 900 building program bear
ing indorsement of administration.
Enactment OF some such plan is
expected during present session.
By the Associated Press.
Admiral William D. Leahy indicated
before the House Naval Committee TO-
day that the chief of the Nays War
Plans Division had held recent con-
versations with British naval author
tiles in London.
The Nays chief of operations i'm
piled such conversations had been held
when he flatly refused to answer in
public question by Representative
Church. Republican, of Illinois as to
whether he had reports from Capt
Royal E. Ingersol, chief of the Wal
Plans Division on the latter's recent
visit to the British capital
Il will make no statement in reply
to that question in public" Admiral
Leahy said, because it involves vital
information concerning the defense ol
our country"
Ioffnr SfofA,rr>nt Drnrns~>l
He said. however, he would make a
very frank statement" to the COM
mittee in executive session and tel
all about It,"
After the hearing on the proposed
$500 ,000,0 900 naval expansion recessed
for the week end. Mr.. Church tolc
reporters his question was based or
published assertions that Capt. Inger-
soil had spent three weeks in Londor
discussing the Nays building pro.
gram with British naval experts.
Mr.. Church said the same account.
alleged that President Roosevelt had
delayed sending his recommendation,
to Congress on increasing the Navy
until Capt Ingersoll's report was avail
able.
Coastal Defense Discussed.
Admiral Leahy previously had told
the committee that the United States
Navy is incapable Of defending both
the Atlantic and Pacific seacoasts at
the same time.
The chief Of naval operations as
serfad "adonusfov dafo,,.o of L.t,
coast lines would require a very much
larger increase" than the proposed
$500, 100000 expansion program.
Admiral Leahy made this assertion
in response to questions by Representa-
tive Mas. Republican. of Minnesota q,
to the desirability Of having two in.
dependent fleets patrol the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans.
Congressional opposition to the $780,
100000 program, meanwhile, threat
ened to upset the Naval Committee.
calculations for quick approval.
Delay Threatens Program.
Committee members said indica-
tions were that. due partly to opposi-
ton requests to be heard, the hearings
on legislation to authorize ~ new war
ships and % auxiliaries would last two
weeks. Chairman Vinson originally
estimated the hearings would last
two or three days"
Mr.. Vinson interrupted Representa-
tive Mas questioning of Admiral
Leahy to remark that the present fleet
Is capable of defending only one coast
at time"
THAT is correct" Admiral Leahy
said.
In other words" Representative
Vinson continued, "the Nays eggs are
all in one basket-the Panama Canal
and at some time in the future we NAV
(See NAVAL Pare A.3N