Evening star., 1941-01-16
S9O9,OO0,O00
Outlay by Navy
Is Approved
House Unit Backs Plea
For 400 Ships and
Plant Expansion
Ry the Associated Press.


The House Naval Affairs Com
mittee gave prompt and unanimous
approval today to an urgent Navy
request for authority to spend s909,-
100000 for 400 relatively small new
ships for the Navy and for vast
expansion of shipbuilding and
ordnance plants.
The action brought to 81 ,209 ,000,-
900 the naval outlays which the
committee has recommended in less
than "a hours. Approved yesterday
was a s3O0,OOO,O0O program for
strengthening the fleets defenses
against dive bombers and other
aerial attacks.
No funds we're carried in the
legislation, but the Navy announced
it would seek a large part Of the
money soon via supplemental ap-
preparation bill.
The 400 new ships, to cost approx
mately s465, 100000, would consist
chiefly of sub chasers, seagoing es-
cort vessels, mine sweepers and tor
pedo boats.
Will Ask Funds for 280.
The Navy already has signlfled It's
intention of asking funds for 28o OF
them. The latter include 36 escort
vessels - 165-foot seagoing craft
which could be used for transoceanlc
convoy patrol-30 subchaserS, "a tor
pedo boats and 100 mine sweepers.
They would cost a total Of 1910, ,460,-
600, fully equipped.
Of the s315,OOO,00O for new ship
building facilities, Rear Admiral
Samuel M. Robinson, chief of the
Bureau of Ships. testified that about
s25 900 900 would be used to create
or expand facilities for the construc-
ton of the 280 new craft. The bulk
of these are to be built on the Great
Lakes, Admiral Robinson said. but
the specific yards have not been Sc
lected.
Some of the new building facilities
will be for the 40 additional de-
stroyers for which the Navy recently
awarded contracts.
The bill also would authorize an
outlay of Sl94,0 100000 for expansion
of the Nations capacity for making
anti-aircraft guns for both naval
and merchant vessels, armor and
other ordnance.
Chairman Vinson announced he
hoped to get the authorization bills
before the House for consideration
not later than next Thursday.
Will Offer Academy Legislation.
He told newsmen he also would
introduce legislation to authorize
each member of Congress TO ap.
point five midshipmen to the Naval
Academy instead of four, in an ef-
fort to increase the supply of officers
for the growing Navy. The commit
tee is to hold public hearings on
that measure tomorrow.
Rear Admiral w. r. Furlong,
chief Of naval ordnance, explained
that the new ordnance manufactur-
ing facilities were desired not only
to turn out anti-aircraft guns for
the fleet, but also to provide source
of supply if it became necessary to
furnish similar weapons for arming
some 1000 merchantmen. He said
the Navy was preparing for the
latter contingency.
Other naval Developments:
l. Secretary Knox announced that
the Navy was reorganizing its ship
yards for 72-hour work week. Most
yards now are on a 48-hour basis.
with workmen paid time-and-one-
half for overtime past 40 hours.
The change would be effected by
putting on additional shifts.
2. Joint training maneuvers in
volving Army units as we'll as the
Atlantic Fleet will start January 81
in the Caribbean area, Mr.. Knox
said.
3. Admiral Robinson disclosed that
50 trawlers and dredgers have been
taken over by the Navy for con-
version into minesweepers. The
conversion cost was heavy. he said.
but was undertaken in the interest
of speed.