Evening star., 1940-06-19
Worlds Greatest Noyv

WHICH Ine navy, only lew months
ago, asked Congress to authorize q
twenty-five per cent expansion of
the fleet, there were immediate pro-
tests from the isolationists and even
from some administration support
ers. The proposal was debated at
length in committee and on the floor
and Congress finally approved an
eleven per cent expansion program.
The Navy Department indicated it
would be content with this reduction
In its program. But times have
changed. On Monday the admins
tration asked authority for an addi-
tlonal tWenty-three per cent naval
expansion, to cost $1,000 OOO, 900 and
to provide eighty-four new warships.
And even while the House Naval
Affairs Committee was considering
this supplemental request yesterday,
Admiral Harold R. Stark, Chief of
Naval Operations, appeared with a
substitute, far-reaching program,
calling for $400O,OOO, 900, seventy
per cent fleet increase above present
strengthen hand, on order and
authorized. This would practically
triple the present American Fleet.
Most Of Admiral Stark's testimony
was given in executive session, but
1t is reasonable to assume that this
veteran naval expert discussed in
blunt terms, without benefit of ora
torlcal establishment, the grave i'm
pllcations of Germany's new con-
quests. For the fall of France means
the fall of much of the wishful
thinking to which too many of our
citizens and their leaders have clung
In recent months. Sooner than most
persons believed possible, we are face
to face with the grim reality of q
France overwhelmed by mechanical
mass murder, of a France negotiating
Tor peace under the most fearsome
pressure, OF France awaiting terms
from foe eyeing greedily French
material resources - including the
strong French fleet. Germany syste-
matlcally has augmented her own
strength by taking over the resources
OF conquered states. She used
Czecho-Slovakian war machines
against France-and she plans to use
French war machines in her SUI
preme effort against Great Britain.
The combined German, French and
Italian fleets would about equal
Britain's vaunted navy-and with
Britain no longer dominant on the
Atlantic and forced to fight for her
very existence, America is confronted
with ominous possibilities in that
ocean.
1t was undoubtedly with such a
picture in mind that the House Naval
Affairs Committee quickly approved
Admiral Stark's urgent request for
what would amount to a two-ocean
Navy-whether called by that name
or not. 1t would give the United
States fleet strong enough to resist
successfully a combined assault bv
totalitarian aggressors, the experts
believe. But the citizens should
realize that the bill approved yes
terday is merely an authorization,
not an appropriation. It provides
only for an immediate start on the
planning and on the preliminary ar
rangements for beginning construc-
tlon. Enough funds will be asked of
this session of Congress to expand
shlpbuilding and armor plate facil-
tiles, so that the actual construction
can be started at an early date. And
it will take about seven years to
complete such a program. In ordi-
nary times that would seem like
rapid construction, but conditions
today make it seem dangerously long.
In passing this bill-and it is incon-
ceivable that it should fail to pass
Congress should do all in it's power to
insure that this new fleet takes shape
as soon as money and human en-
ergies and materials can do the Job.
For seven years is a long time,
measured in terms of whirlwind
blitZkriegS.