Evening star., 1940-01-10
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committee the defects In the de-
stroyers' stability had been cor
rected for about one-seventh OF l
per cent of the ships total cost and
that they now are "all right in every
way"
The testimony was made public
by the committee. which had been
considering President Roosevelt's
request for approximately s27l ,000.-
600 for increases in the Army, Navy,
Coast Guard and Federal Bureau OF
Investigation, due to the interna-
tional emergency.
Admiral Robinson said that situa-
tions requiring later correction In
shipbuilding are unavoidable and
are due to attempts to make prog
ress.
I'VE make changes either to cor
rect mistakes or to improve military
characteristics. or for some other
purpose, on every ship that we build" "
he said, so far as I know from my
30 years experience at it"
Steel Added to KeelS.
In response to detailed questioning
by Representative Otter. Democrat,
OF Pennsylvania, who criticized Ad-
miral Robinson and other naval off,
cials for making "face-saving ex-
plantations" Admiral Robinson said
the defects were corrected in some
cases by adding as much as so tons
of steel to the destroyers' keels. He
said a gun had been removed from
some of them, but only for trial
runs.
mo guns are being removed per-.
manently," he asserted repeatedly.
Questioned whether there was any
significance to the fact that Admiral
Du Bose, former chief OF, the Bu-
reau of Construction, no longer was
in charge of that work, Admiral
Robinson replied the only person
who could answer that was the Sec
retary of the Navy.
well, did he leave the post Of
construction and repair at or about
the time this faulty construction
was discovered?' persisted Mr.. Dit
ter.
"Very shortly thereafter, yes, sir"
Better Design Sought.
sMr. Otter wanted to know also
whether the trouble and additional
cost involved in the destroyers' con-
struction was the result Of the
Navy's use of plans prepared by the
New York firm of Gibbs e. Cox in
stead of using those already pre-
pared by the Bethlehem Steel Co.
Admiral Robinson explained the
New York firm was retained by the
Federal Shipbuilding Co. of Kearny.
N. j.. which had the contract for
II of the ships. He added the Navy
had desired a new and improved
design-better than those previ-
ously submitted by either the Fed
eral or Bethlehem companies.
The committee was told by Ad-
miral Harold r. Stark, chief OF
naval operations, that he intended
to recommend that the Navy's en-
listed personnel be increased to its
full peacetime authorization of l45,-
600 men. Including reserves. he said,
it now numbers about 1913 600.
Torped0es at Alexandria.
Rear Admiral w. r. Furlong,
chief of the Navy's Bureau of Ord
nance, predicted that production of
torpedoes at Alexandria, Va, would
begin next September.
Meanwhile, he told the subcom-
mittee, manufacture of all torpedoes
for the Navy was being continued
at Newport, r. I.
Admiral Furlong told the subcom-
mittee production at Alexandria
would be started as soon as new
machinery was installed. Rhode Is
land members of Congress have
been assured by Navy officials that
operations at the Alexandria tor
pedo factory would not reduce en-
ployment at Newport.
Army Called Inadequate.
The committee was told that the
strength of the Army was made
quate to meet normal preparedness
needs. Gen. George c. Marshall,
chief of staff, testified that the
United States Army ranks nine
teenth among the armies of the
world. He did not, however, list the
18 superior forces.
Representative Ludlow, Democrat,
of Indiana asked whether the pres
ent War Department program was
sufficient ITO take care of Americas
preparedness needs"
mo, sir" Gen. Marshall replied.
Gen. Marshall told Representa-
tive Johnson, Democrat, of West Vir-
ginia that the expansion of Army
units "is so small" that other ma
tions would not "be unduly excited
about it."
Maj. Gen. w. c. Baker, chief Of
the Chemical Warfare Service, tes-
titled that the Army Is not buying
any gas masks for distribution to
civilians, but has procured 17,450
new masks to take care of recently
recruited troops.