Navy Needs $2,276,000,000
Washington, Jan, 17.
The Secretary of War, Mr. Harry Woodring, told the House Military Affairs Committee here yesterday that the United States Army is no longer a "paper military force" but is fast becoming an "Army in being" under the War Department's defence plan.
Mr. Woodring outlined the Army's defence aims for committee members and said that the "European war confirms our belief in the importance of a balanced programme of defence." He said such a programme would be reassurance that "our favourable geographical situation remains relatively unaffected."
Admiral Harold Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, told the House Naval Affairs Committee that an estimated $2,276,000,000 would be required by 1945 to carry out naval construction already authorized by Congress and the pending Vinson Bill which would authorize a further 25 per cent. increase in naval strength.
Under current authorizations, Admiral Stark said, the Navy could build 68 warships. He said he had already asked funds for the construction of nineteen of these ships in addition to more than 100 warships already under construction. Admiral Stark said the Navy could build an additional 77 warships if the pending Vinson Na Bill is authorized by Congress.—United. Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.