Evening star., 1940-01-16
u. 5. Navy 10 Need
$2,276,000,o00 by
1945, Stark Says
House Unit Is Told Of
Requirements for las
Worships, New Planes
Hy the Associated Press.

Admiral Harold r. Stark told the
House Naval Committee today that
s2,276 900 900 would be needed by
1945 to complete the Navys current
and proposed construction of 145
warships and new airplanes.
The chief of naval operations tes-
titled that, in addition to the n
combatant ships proposed in the
pending 81 300 900 900 fleet-expansion
bill, the Navy has asked for funds
to start 10 new ships previously au-
thorized and has the authority to
build 40 more If funds are provided
Replying to criticism that the
Navy should build 68 ships already
authorized before asking authori-
zation for the II new ships, Admiral
Stark declared the current budget
in which the Navy asked funds to
start only 19 of the 68 was prepared
last July-before the outbreak of
the European war.
Situation Now Held Urgent.
world conditions have changed
since then" he explained. There
was not the same urgency then as
now exists. Since then we have re-
ceived more information about for
eign building"
Furthermore, he said the Navy
intended to ask the money for all
authorized ships whether this lex
pansion bill goes through or not"
Il sincerely hope that those who
have objected that we haven't asked
for it will stand by it when we do"
Woodring Gives Views.
Appearing before the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee, Secretary
of War Woodring said a small but
perfect Army in being"-as op-
posed to one on paper-would en-
able this country to speak with
authority for peace"
He asked the committees support
for new arms and funds for train
ing. Inadequate defenses in this
tragic era," he declared, jeopardize
q nations existence.
up to this winter our Army has
not been an Army in being" the
War Secretary said. Scattered in
isolated battalion and regimental
posts, almost immobilized by extra
ordinary dispersion, if not by
climatic handicaps, our military
establishment has been a paper
military force.
'"The entire force is still short in
modern arms and equipment, much
being on order that has not yet been
delivered. 1t urgently requires field
training in the regimental and high
er echelons of command"
Defense of Outlying Areas.
Secretary Woodring noted that
roughly one-third of the Regular
Army, about 10000 combat troops
is required for the protection OF
Panama, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and
the Philippines This left, he said
approximately 10000 combat troops
as the foundation for the Nation S
initial protective force.
Including the National Guard, the
protective force now projected totals
about 460 900 men, which in a major
emergency could be expanded rap
idly to 10000, and with replace
ments, to million men.
Secretary Woodring termed the
Presidents request for $1,OO7 ,000, ,00G
for military purpose of the War De-
partment "a wise STEP toward full
fillment of Army objectives.
He added, however, the funds
would not provide for the deficiency
of some $500, ,OOO, 900 worth of critica
ordnance and engineer items and a
smaller amount of other less critica
munitions for the 100000 men in
the protective mobilization plan"
Ship Plans Hit Snag.
Meanwhile, it was learned au-
thoritatively that the Navy's plans
for high-speed unit of four As 1000
ton battleships had struck a snag in
the House Naval Appropriations
Subcommittee, members of which
have been advocating even larger
capital ships.
The subcommittee, which has just
completed hearings on the Navy's
regular appropriation for the year
starting July l, served written no.
tice on the Navy that no further
funds would be forthcoming for the
45,000-ton ships until the depart
ment showed why they should not
be abandoned in favor of larger
craft.
Members of the subcommittee
have criticized the Nays policy of
matching" the construction of for
eign powers instead of taking the
lead. It is understood they feel that
to go ahead with 45,000-ton ships
would merely continue the match
ing" policy, since Japan has been
reported to he building battleships
exceeding 10000 tons.
~ a. AA11 nnn.A