Washington, July 21. PRESENT Roogeveli's signature on the Navel Expansion Bill yesterday inaugurated the programme to construct a two-ocean fleet larger than the present combined naval power of Japan, Italy, Germany and Russia.
The bill authorized a 70 per cent, increase in fighting tonnage, envisaging the construction of 200 vessels over and above ships now afloat, authorized or building.
When the programme is completed in 1946 it will give the Navy 701 warships, including 35 battleships, 20 aircraft carriers, 88 cruisers, 378 destroyers and 180 submarines.
1.325.000 tons of new fighting. ships, authorizes an increase in the Navy's The Navy Bill, besides air strength from 4,000 to a maximum 15,000 planes. It also provides for 100,000 tons of auxiliary ships of various categories, The construction authorized _includes 385,000 tons. of battleships or about eight 45,000-ton vessels. It also authorizes the construction of 200,000 tons of aircraft carriers, representing about 10 vessels, and also 420,000 tons cruisers and 250,000 tons of destroyers. addition, the bill authorizes an appropriation of US$65,000,000 for the expansion of gun factories and 'USS35,000,000 for the expansion of armour-plate production. It also oppropriate US$50,000,000 for the pro-urement of a fleet of torpedo and patrol vessels and contains a provi-Sion forbidding the sale of war.vessels, {o any foreign power or the scrapping of any vessels without Congressional /approval—United Press.
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