Evening star., 1940-06-30

under Act of June %. 1898, at an
estimated cost of S7903,000 for five
years, This rewrote the selection
law and increased the authorized
line officers strength to 1852. (6y
The Naval Reserve Act was rewrit-
ten. The Act of June IS, 1898, pro-
vided for minimum of 5000 Naval
Reserve aviators at an estimated
cost of S3,312,552 annually. (e)
Appropriation of s3,992,O57 was au-
thorized by Act of June 25, 1888, for
public works projects at Pearl
Harbor; New London, Conn; Coco
Solo, Canal Zone; Annapolis, Mare
Island, Oahu and San Diego.
Recent Program.
In the 10th Congress: ID For the
modernization of three submarines,
s5,500000 was authorized by Act of
April 20, 1899. (2) Construction of
public works at a total cost Of $68,-
100000 was authorized by Act of
April 25, 1899. This act was based
on the Hepburn Board studies and
recommendations. 1t provided for
the development of naval aviation
facilities at Kaneoke Bay, Midway.
Wake, Johnston Island PALMYRA
Island, Kodiak, Alaska, Sitka,
San Juan, Pensacola, Jacksonville
and Banana River, Fla. 1t also au-
thorized construction of an engine
laboratory at the naval aircraft fac
tory, Philadelphia, at a cost not to
exceed S1,800,000. C3) Appropria-
ton of $71.144,500 was authorized
for the construction of miscellaneous
public works (Act of June 2, 1887.
The major items include a craving
drydock for Pearl Harbor and Mare
Island the establishment of a naval
supply depot at Oakland, Calf, and
the acquisition of Hunters Point
drydocks in San Francisco Bay; also
the construction of public works and
utilities in South Boston drydocks.
(4) The commissioning of aviation
cadets as ensigns in the Naval Re-
serve upon completion of training
and retention on active duty for
seven years is authorized by the Act
of June 13, 1899. 90 Major over
hauls for five battleships and ac-
QUESTION of two motor vessels for
the Maritime Commission at an au-
thorized cost of $9,16000O is pro-
vided for by the Act of July Is,
1899. 90 Major alterations to three
of the older battelships, especially
as to gun elevation, at a cost of
$5,725, 900 is also on the program.
CD Another naval expansion mea-
sure authorizes an increase of 81
ships Q67,000 tons) of combat ton
mage; % ships (75,000 tons) of aux
iliary tonnage and minimum of
4,500 naval airplaneS, which is an
increase of 1,011. The estimated cost
is $685., 100000. 80 An appropria-
ton of SIPS 900 IS recommended for
acquisition of 81 acres at Key West
for Naval Air Station, patrol plane
base. (9) Another measure pro-
vides for reorganization of the Navy
Department by consolidating the
Bureaus of Construction and Repair
and Engineering into the Bureau of
Ships. Q0 Legislation is also I'M
der consideration transferring the
active list of the Construction Corps
to the line of the Navy as engineer
ing duty only officers. Old The act
of June Is, 1910, for aviation expan-
sion authorized 10000 planes, $4,000
aviators and expanded shore ia
cilities.
On July /, 1884, the United States
Navy possessed 371 under-age and
average combatant units. On May
l, 1910, the number had grown to
ATS, including 56 units in various
stages of construction. To this num-
ber may be added the 81 combat
units which will be commenced dur
ing the fiscal year 1941.
Information as to the status of
foreign programs and present
strength is rather meager and not
dependable. This is particularly true
as to Japan and Germany-where
the American people feel their grav-
est danger lies. But it is the ma
ture judgment of those who follow
such matters that the forward
march of the United States in naval
construction since 1888, including
units being built and appropriated
for, places the United States Navy
beyond question NOT second = to
none" but superior to any other
navy in the world. That, however,
it should be emphasized, disregards
possible combinations Of foreign
forces.