Evening star., 1941-01-05
By FRED Fl. MORHART, Jr.

By FRED Fl. MORHARI, Jr.
The Navy Departments program
to build a fleet train of fast auxili-
aries is l9 ships short and all but
s15oOOo of its s75 100000 fund has
been exhausted, tabulation dis
closed yesterday.
Through funds provided by the
last Congress it was planned to OBJ
tain So fast auxiliary vessels for
the fleet train, but unexpected high
prices permitted the Navy to get
only 81 of these carriers. However,
the funds did provide 144 auXiliaries
of all classes.
AS this situation became evident.
Chairman Vinson of the House
Naval Affairs Committee notified
members of that group to be on
hand Tuesday for the opening OF
widespread probe" into the Navy's
huge shipbuilding and aircraft pro-
curement program, adding that the
defense undertaking would have to
be both expanded and accelerated,
Mr.. VinSOn said not single Keel
has been laid yet for any of the
ships authorized by Congress in
the two naval expansion bills passed
at the last session, but that mate
rials were being assembled for many
Of them.
Discussing the proposed inquiry,
he told reporters that what we
want to do now is to find out from
the experts what, if anything, is
DELAYING the work and what we can
do to speed it up"
Plea for More Funds Seen.
While naval officials declined to
comment on the fleet train problem,
1t is understood that additional
funds will be sought in the budget
President Roosevelt is sending to
Congress Wednesday. This will be
based on estimates from the various
bureaus and sections of the de-
partment.
Though none of the naval Off
cials would intimate yesterday now
much money would be asked OF
Congress. it is believed the eStl-
mates run into billions. During the
last session Congress gave the Navy
S8,l23.l38.l37, which included funds
for the long-range building pro-
gram.
During the present session Con-
gress is expected to be asked TO
provide at least an additional s4,-
5OO,OO0.0 900 to carry out the projected
program.
While waiting for construction
OF bases on the eight British pos
sessions in this hemisphere, the
Navy is particularly anxious to
have a fleet train which could take
the place of supply depots and
minor repair stations.
With this in view it is expected
the Navy will continue to acquire
vessels of Ill types suitable for this
need. At present there have been
acquired II transports, IL oil tank
ers. 2 ammunition ships, 2 miscel-
laneous auxiharies, provision ves-
sci, l hospital ship and 4 cargo
carriers.
Navy Buys 110 Auxiliaries.
In addition the Navy has pur-
chased 110 auXiliaries for repair
ships and coastal duty. These in
Clude two submarine tenders and
two seaplane tenders, which could
be included in the fleet train. The
remainder are for conversion into
mine SWeeperS, submarine chaSerS
and other coastal work.
The Navy has a building pro-
gram under way which will provide
1l8 more auXiliaries. -Four classes
of these may be used with the feet
train. These include three de-
stroyer tenders, four repair ships,
seven submarine tenders and u
Seaplane tenders. The remainder
are mine layers, mine sWeeperS,
submarine rescue craft and sub
marine chasers. This building pro-
gram is expected to cost $4,000, 600.
Naval officials declined to say
whether the 262 auXiliaries being
bought or built will be sufficient
for the proposed two-ocean Navy
of 69l combat vessels, However,
some observers believe that more
large, fast carriers will be sought.
It is felt the main need at present
is for more ammunition, provision,
and transport vessels.
Most of the feet train craft, in
cluding all of the tankers and the
ammunition ships, were acquired
from the Maritime Commission.
Five of the transports were pur-
chased from the Baltimore Mail
S. S. Co., including all of the tank
ers and the ammunition ships.
These were: City of Baltimore, City
of Los Angeles, City of Newport
News, City of San Francisco, and
City of Norfolk.
Two Battleships to Join Fleet.
Chairman Vinson said "a pretty
good batch" of fighting ships would
join the fleet this year, including
two new 35,000-ton battleships, and
he disclosed also that warships al
ready in service will get bomb
proof caps fitted over their decks
as part of a proposed $500 900 900
program of strengthening their anti
aircraft defenses.
Installation of the new equipment
will probably be made as the ships
come in for regular overhaul, he
said, and several years will elapse
before all are so equipped.
So-called turtle back" designs for
fighting ships have been under dis
cussion for some time and former
Navy Secretary Edison said last year
something of that nature would be
necessary to protect gunners and
other deck personnel from bombs.
Mr.. Vinson disclosed that the
battleships North Carolina and
Washington, both 5,000-tonners,
would be commissioned on July IS
and September 80, respectively, CIV
ing the feet total of II capital
ships in service. Under construction
since 1887, they will be the first
battleships completed for the Navy
since the early 1920s.