London, Dec. 9.
"The Americans, als far gan make out, are going in for their full naval programme," said Mr. Bridgeman, the First Lord of the Admiralty, in a speech ut Welshpool to-day, "i do not dispute that they are building for their own defence]
ssese, We have no reason to alter our plans. We do not intend to enter into a building competition with any country if we can possibly help it."—Reuter, Pive Years' Programme Washington, Dee, 13, Secretary Wilbur has submitted: to the Budget Bureau a five-year naval building programme providing for additional cruisers, submarines and destroyers.
'A report that President Coolidge approved the programme is denied, But Speaker Longworth of the House of Representatives: hax disclosed that he conferred with the President regarding the advisability, of materially strengthening the Navy and told him that the Houge was in an "ambitious. mood" and would support an "adequate programme of naval expansion."
The exact number and speci tion of the vessels immediately' under' consideration have not been' disclosed, but officials estimate the cost of new construction, apart. from replacements, at approximately. $65,000,000 a year, {$70,009,000 Programme Dec. 14.
Mr, Wilbur, the Secretary of the Navy, has transmitted to Congress:
naval building programme to cost over $700,000,000, Tt includes 25 Light cruisers, 32 submarines, nine destroyer-leuders und five: aircraft. carriers, In the event of an international conference for naval limitation, says Mr. Wilbur, President Coolidge would authorise' suspension of construction. He estimates that the ight cruisers will each cost $17 £000,000, destroyer-teaders and sul marines each $6,000,000, and aircraft-carrions each $19,000,000.—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.