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Show COMMITTEE URGES NAVALEXPANSION rtECOMM ENDS BUILDING O" TEN GREAT BATTLESHIPS AND TEN SCOUT CRUISERS. Work on New Ships Not to Begin Before Be-fore February 1, 1920. Would Have Temporary Naval Fores of 225,000 Men. Washington. The administration policy of vast naval expansion unless world disarmament becomes a certainty certain-ty through international agreement at Paris, was approved on January 31 by the house naval committee in unanimously unani-mously recommending a new three-year three-year building program of ten great battleships bat-tleships and ten scout cruisers. Administration leaders said the vote was an endorsement of the program announced by Secretary Daniels for an American navy second to none, unless limitations are imposed on all nations by the peace conference. Should an agreement for such limitation be reached, the bill provides that the president may stop construction at his discretion. While the program, as recommended, does not authorize the six battle cruisers and 130 other small craft asked for by the department, it was explained that it had been decided to postpone construction of these vessels until naval experts could reach agreement agree-ment as to their designs based on experience ex-perience gained in the war. Besides providing for the new building build-ing program, the bill authorizes a temporary naval force of 225,000 men, exclusive of officers, and carries an amendment by Representative Oliver of Alabama, directing that men who enlisted ill the navy during the war for the regular term of four years shall be regarded as having enlisted for the period of the war, if they apply for such change of status before next July 1. |