Evening star., 1940-06-30

W1llllIi GIlIee years dl IOLdl COSC OF
$4,000, ,000 900. This is in addition to
the $1,813, 1874, ,308 heretofore appro-
priated for the fiscal year 1941 for
the Navy establishment, in which
was included provision for COM
mencing the construction of 80 addi-
tional vessels as well as for contin-
u1ng work on 68 vessels in various
stages of construction.
Congress recently passed and the
President has signed the so-called
Aviation Expansion Act which pro-
vides for 10000 planes, $4,000 avi-
ators, additional training facilities
and general expansion of aviation
faciities-the estimated cost of
which will be $2,300,00O,o 900. This
contemplates heavy expenditures
for improved aviation shore facilities
at 10 strategic locations, including
25,000,00 to be spent at Corpus
Christi, Tex; $24,204,000 to be spent
at Quonset Point, R. l.; S13,246,O0O
at Norfolk, Va; $12,690,000 at Coco
Solo, c. T.; $6,86l0O0 at Alameda,
Calf, and $685. 900 at Oahu,
Hawaii, The other stations are:
San Juan, P. l.; Seattle, Wash;
Kodiak, Alaska; Midway Island,
Wake Island, Johnston Island
Quantico, Va; Guantanamo, Cuba !;
Charlotte Amalie, v. l.; San Diego
Calf; Unalaska, Alaska; Canton
Island and Tongue Point, Greg.
Since 1888, when the United
States Government seriously en-
barked on Navy defense building
program, following II years of a
self-imposed naval construction hol-
iday under the then-eXeisting Navy
limitation treaties, Congress has
authorized appropriations aggregat-
ing $4,000, 100000, which should be
added to the $4000,000 900 in the bill
just reported, and the $2,300000 600
required under the Aviation Expan-
sion Act-making the grand total OF
more than $10,50000O,000
This expansion is going to mean
O. very large increase in the COM
missioned and enlisted personnel of
the Navy and also of the Nal inc
Corps, the strength of which is
based on the strength of the Navy.
West Coast Academy.
This will probably mean another
naval academy, because there is nc
room for expansion at Annapolis
This might mean that the West
Coast may attain its long cherished
desire for duplicate institution.
1t will also inevitably mean an
expansion OF the Marine Corps base;
at Quantico and San Diego.
1t must also entail tremendous
increase in the output of big guns
and torpedoes for the Navy, whose
only gun factory is now at the
Washington Navy Yard and the
nearby auxiliary torpedo plant al
Alexandria. Definite provision foi
another gun and ordnance factory
at South Charleston, w. Va, has
already been approved by the House
Naval Affairs Committee.
This article is written after
lengthy conferences with those who
are taking a leading part in the
Navy development program as the
first, most immediate requisite for
adequate national defense. 1t is
written to reaSsure the American
people regarding what has been
done, is being done and is contem-
plated, because the size, quality and
readE-ssS Of Cur first line of defense
Is uppermost in the minds of the
people of this country today.
Possible situations growing out
of the war in Europe have focused
the attention of the people in the
United States upon our Navy to a
degree not approached since the days
following the outbreak of the Wal
With Spain when the lack of infor-
nation as to the whereabouts o1
Cervera's fleet aroused a great dea.
of uneaslness and alarm throughout
the length of the Atlantic seaboard
Not since that time, over two score
years ago, has there been so much
concern about the adequacy ano
efficiency of our naval arm, includ-
ing its air and fleet Marine ad-
juncts, as at the present time wher
there is a distinct possibility oi
these being effected in the not dis.
tant future, combination of ses
power of considerable strength un.
der the domination of influence.