The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-04
Mr.. HALE CRITICISES
PLANS OF NAVAL BOARD
Maine Senator Thinks the Country
Is Building Too Many War
Vessels.
TRIBUTE TO OFFICERS

WASHINGTON, March 3-For almost
four hours to-day the Senate, while tech
nically engaged on the naval appropria-
ton bill. discussed a wide range of sub
jects, including the policy Of the United
States in the Philippines and the Russo
japanese war. The principal participants
were Messrs. Hale. Bacon, Lodge, Depew,
Patterson. Perkins and Money.
Mr.. Hale in charge of the naval BILL
criticised the plans of the naval board as
tending to an establishment beyond the
needs of the country. He classed Great
Britain first, France second and the United
States third in naval strength, saying the
popular impression that Germany out
ranked this country was fallacious. Mr..
Hale acceded to a proposition by Mr.. Per-
kins that in effectiveness of appliances the
United States stood next to Great Britain.
This was due to the fact that we had been
able to take advantage of the mistakes of
the European powers. Mr.. Hale said that
Japan was the smallest Of the naval DOW
ers. with the exception of Austria but had
an advantage in being only a few hundred
miles from the farthest naval operations in
which she might become involved I'm our
navy" said Mr.. Hale, there is talk of put
ting many of cur vessels, such as the
Oregon, Indiana and SOthers OF the same
class. on the retired list"
L nope they won retire the oregon"
said Mr. Stewart
well. they ought not to-" said Mr. Hale.
"but she has not the stateroom facilities
that meet the fancy of naval officers. She
has the same number of thirteen-inch guns
and the same fighting capacity Nothing
suits the navy officers except the largest
battleships." He expressed the opinion that
the present war in the Orient would show
that other vessels are more valuable than
large battleships, but admits that no
definite conclusions could be drawn until
the smoke lifted.
Mr.. Hale said he had no censure for the
officers of the American navy, but the
naval officer Is the naval officer pure and
simple and the American navy bounds his
complete horizon. For him the navy is
everything and the naval board has run
too much in the direction of enormous
ships. In some respects the naval officers
are like the farmer who wants 10 raise the
biggest pumpkin. They don't want Great
Britain or Germany TO excel the United
States. The naval board programme con-
templated forty-eight battleships and
twenty-four armored cruisers, and when
that stage was reached an appropriation of
S2O0.00OOc0 a year would be necessary for
the navy. He thought IL probable that the
appropriation required next would be $lO,-
10000 IT, however. the scale should be
kept down TO the present rate OF increase
the appropriation would not be increased.
1--WE should" he said. "get along with a
hundred millions year.
Mr.. Lodge. Mr.. Depew and Mr.. Perkins
defended the naval officers. Mr.. Lodge de-
clared large navy essential to the main
tenance OF peace. Mr.. Money said he did
not consider the total appropriation ($97,-
OOooO0) carried by the bill excessive
under our present policy in the Orient. He.
however criticised that policy, as did other
Tornorra fiC sneakers.