Evening star., 1939-11-05
o5 Wurcruft,
2,400 Planes
To Be Asked
By the Associated Press.

NOlSTeSS WILL DC asked IN January
to authorize a new $1,000, ,0OO, ,0O(
Naval expansion program calling
for 95 additional warships and
about 2,400 more airplanes.
Chairman Vinson of the House
,, Naval Affairs Committee made pub.
lie the details Of the huge con.
struction program last night aftel
a conference with Admiral Harolc
R. Stark, new chief of naval oper.
ations.
Representative Vinson, who fire.
quently speaks for the administra
ton on naval matters, said he woult
introduce the necessary legislation
The program was formulated, he
added. in the light Of world con.
ditions."
Is Per Cent Tonnage Increase.
He explained that 1t provided fol
a Is per cent increase in the tonnag,
of the Nays per cent greater thar
provided by the so-called "Billior
Dollar" Act of 1887.
No battleships would be bull
under the proposed authorization
but all other major ship categorie.
would be included. Altogether thu
program calls for construction of
aircraft carriers, 8 cruisers, So de.
stroyers, 80 submarines and 81
auxiliary vessels total of 126 new
combatant and on-combatant ships
Under the proposed legislation
the President would have authority
however, to alter the building pro-
gram within the specified categories
according to "the best interests o1
the national defense"
In addition to the new airplanes
the authorization would provide fol
36 lighter -than-air ships, most of
them expected to be blimps.
More Personnel Would BE Needed
Representative Vinson said q
navy of the size contemplated under
the program would require an en-
listed personnel of about 250,0 ,00C
men. The present strength is about
10000, but the Navy is engaged in
. recruiting campaign designed to
raise 1t to las, 900.
The naval chairman said the
question Of q personnel increase
need not be considered at the COM
ing session, however, since 1t would
take three to four years to complete
construction.
Representative Vinson said in the
statement that survey of the ship
building industry indicated the bulk
Of the proposed construction could
be completed within three to four
years IF special effort is exerted
to that end"
To facilitate the building program,
Representative Vinson said Con-
gress would be asked to repeal the
provision in existing law requiring
that so per cent of all naval ship
construction be done in navy yards
and to permit the Secretary Of the
Navy to advance to contractors up
to 80 per cent of the cost of any
ships.
Guard Against Amy Combinations
Authority also would be given the
Navy Department to acquire all
essential equipment and facilities
at shore establishments" for the out
fitting of the ships.
''The Navy which we have built
building and authorized will be suf-
ficient protection against any single
aggressor, but is insufficient protec-
ton against possible combinations
Mr.. Vinson said.
I'm the light of world conditions,
the American people justly demand q
naval force more nearly adequate to
meet any possible national defense
need. 1t is the duty of Congress tc
provide it."
Referring to recent widespread
discussion of so-called "two-ocear
Navy" for the United States, Repre-
sentative Vinson said he would moi
hesitate to recommend it if it were
necessary at this time. However, hi
said it was his considered opinion
after technical advice, that the need!
of national defense would best b.
served by increases in the presen
fleet.
Hearings Start January 8.
I'VE want no hysteria," he added
I'VE seek no war. We covet not ont
inch of foreign soil, but we are de.
termined to keep war away from oul
shores. We must have an adequate
f1eet-now."
The necessary legislation already
has been drafted and Mr.. Vinsor
told newsmen his committee woulc
begin public hearings on the pro.
gram January 8.