Evening star., 1940-01-08
.$1,300,000,000
Naval Program
Urged by Stark
Needed Because
Of Situation Abroad, ,
He Tells Congress
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated PreSS.
The Navy's highest ranking officer
urged Congress today to approve q
81 800 000,00 fleet expansion pro-
gram because the international
situation "in conjunction with Far
Eastern conditions, presents threat
Of world conf1agration..'
Admiral Harold r. Stark, chief of
naval operations, was witness be-
fore the House Naval Committee.
He testified that IF the United
States does not take immediate
action toward increasing the
strength of its fleet, the end of the
present war will find us in a rela-
lively weak naval position"
Hearings on the expansion pro-
gram, which experts said would
give this country the worlds great
est navy, opened under the glare
of camera f1oodlghts.
Secretary Edison, in a brief pre-
Iminary statement, said he be-
lieved the proposed 25 per cent
increase in the fleets size was
needed "in view of the grave in
ternational situation
Revision Indicated.
Admiral Stark's testimony indi-
Gated the expansion program had
been revised, since first announced,
to provide for some larger ships
than originally contemplated.
He said the program now called
for n combatant ships and 80 aux
iliaries.
Chairman Vinson of the Naval
Committee originally announced the
proposed increase would provide 95
Warships and 81 auxiliaries.
Admiral stark said the plans still
called for an approximate Is per
cent tonnage increase. but did not
specify what categories of ships
would be enlarged.
He did not make clear imme-
dlately whether the Navy had de-
cided to include some battleships
in the program, previously omitted,
or whether the change meant that
the Navy had decided on battle
ships larger than $4,000 tons, the
current maximum.
Further Defense Fund Periled.
Congressional wariness of raising
the national debt limit appeared,
meanwhile, to lessen the chances Of
additional defense measures which
are being drafted by the War and
Navy Departments in the hope of
administration backing.
Both branches were reported in
administration quarters to have
been counting on prompt approval
of the S2,248l26,50 military appro-
priations which President Roosevelt
submitted last week to clear the
way for requests for supplemental
funds later in the session.
The Armys s1,O07 6,596 share
fell far short of meeting the gen.
eral staff's estimate of the cost Of
critical items for the so-called
initial protective force.
Original Estimate Slashed.
A S85OO0O,000 estimate originally
requested for additional guns, am
munition and supplies for a force OF
upwards of a million men was
slashed. The War Department said
only approximately $4,000, 900 was
included in both regular and emer-
gency budgets specifically for the
purpose.
If Congress adopts the Presidents
budget and votes $3.50, 1000 900 for
special defense taxes, the Federal
deficit will approach the s45,0O0,-
000, 900 mark-the maximum set by
law There has been no general
disposition in Congress so far to
move to increase that limit.
| The Nays estimates Jared better
than the Army's, but there have
been official statements that prepa-
rations are complete to speed up
warship building without awaiting
such additional legislation as the
bill of Chairman Vinson.