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Marine Review January 1932 * EUITORI AL Relative Strength of Navy Must be Maintained O ONE can fairly believe that the Presi- N dent of the United States is not exerting his utmost endeavors in the best inter- ests of the nation, in all its multifarious activi- ties, as he sees them. But he may be pursuing a mistaken policy in regard to the navy. Cer- tainly, the report of the committee appointed by him to examine the accuracy of the asser- tions of fact made by President Gardiner of the navy league will not affect the opinion of those Americans who feel that we should keep our relative strength up to that of the other powers which joined with us in disarmament agree- ments. There is merit no doubt in the disarmament agreements if none of the parties to these agreements gains an advantage. Even though that advantage may come by the neglect of one of the parties in keeping up to the pace set by the others the agreements fail in their purpose. The main point is, not building completely up to the limits allowed, but in keeping step with what the others are doing. From the con- troversy between the President and the navy league, it seems apparent that we are not do- ing so. We do not need to look with suspicion on the motives of other nations, but we can hardly expect them not to take advantage of such opportunities as we may give them by in- difference. This is a matter that will receive the careful attention of congress and our rela- tive naval position must be maintained. Stopping Work on the New Cunarder HE suspension of work on the new super ‘ines for the Cunard Steamship Co. Ltd., is not likely to be of long duration. Means will be found to continue the work. The new ship was to be launched in May, 1932 and was to be ready for service during the late summer of 1933. No name has yet been selected for this giant ship which is to be 1018 feet in length and of 73,000 gross tons. She will be driven by single reduction geared turbines sup- plied with steam from high pressure watertube boilers. Each of the four propellers will be driven by an independent set of machinery, comprising four turbines with pinions meshed to a large gear wheel connected to the line shafting. It can fairly be assumed that all of the en- gineering features of the new Cunarder will represent the highest development of the ship- building art. A speed as high as 32 knots has been mentioned. Irrespective of national rivalries for the blue ribbon of the Atlantic, it would be a loss to the whole world if the completion of this vessel were to be permanently abandoned. The post- ponement is due to the drastic decline in rev- enue during the current year. The earnings, apparently, have not been sufficient to meet the depreciation on its old ships and financing the building of the new ship under present condi- tions is too heavy a burden for the company to carry. Though no application, so far as known, has yet been made to the British government for aid in this emergency, it would seem a measure of public policy for the government to give whatever aid or guarantees as may be neces- sary to complete the building of the ship. It is hoped that some way out of this difficulty will soon be found. — Awarding Contracts for Naval Ships HE navy department on Sept. 16, opened ‘bias for the construction of five destroyers. Contracts were awarded, one each, to the New York navy yard, the Boston navy yard, the Puget Sound navy yard, the Bath Iron Works Corp. and the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. One of the unsuccessful bidders, the United Dry Docks, Inc., having submitted a bid of $2,- 645,000 on the navy department’s own design and next in amount to that of the Bath Iron Works Corp. at $2,626,000, requested the op- MARINE REview—January, 1932 11