Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-28
PLOT AGAINST TAFT2 NEW NAVAL PROGRAM
His Supporters Claim to Have Senator Beverdge Expresses
Unearthed Big One. Pleasure at Outcome
PLAN TO DEFEAT 0HI0AN HE CLAIMS A VICTORY
Roo Says Much Was Gained by Fight
welt at Chicago in the Senate.
PRESIDENT WOULD DECLINE RANK OF AMERICAN NAVY
Seized
to Another Man and Among the Pow
War
HE CLAIMS A VICTORY
Says Much Was Gained by Fight
in the Senate.
RANK OF AMERICAN NAVY
With the Contemplated Increase
Second Place Among the Pow
ers May Be Secured.

Senator Beveridge. who led the fight in
the Senate for more battleships, today
expressed himself as satisfied with the
outcome. When the fight was begun. he
said there was every likelihood that two
battleships would be provided for. but
not single dollar was appropriated
which meant that their construction
would go over until the next Congress
The fight had resulted in securing an ap-
preparation available in few months
Besides that. practical promise had
been made that hereafter two battleships
would be provided for each year. This
is a big concession. as the presidential
program contemplated only one battle
ship a year in the future should Con-
gress have provided four this year.
The Fight Only Begun.
He told a representative of The Star
| that the advocates of a greater navy are
happy, and that the fight has only just
begun.
''Of course the substantial victory
was Won in getting an appropria-
tien for two battleships and in getting
a promise publicly made on the floor Of
the Senate from Mr.. Allison. chairman of
the committee on appropriations. and
from Mr.. Hale. chairman Of the commit
tee on naval affairs, for two more bat
tleships next session, making four this
Congress-" said Mr.. Beveridge.
This is q real victory" he continued.
''The House sent us the bill and the Sen
ate committee reported 1t, apparently pro-
viding for two battleships. but really pro-
viding for none. The country was given
to understand that the bill provided for
htpfl sS,rr twr,@ h4H @rI,f, >v~I ~-4A
there was no appropriation and nothing
could be done for at least a year and a
half. This state OF affairs was brought
out and the appropriation for two battle
ships was put In on the floor of the Sen
ate. In addition to this, the promise for
two more this Congress makes up q SUBJ
stantial victory. Had the fight not been
made We would not even have had bat
tieship at all provided for.
But the issue is broader than that
We are for a greater navy and We are
going to keep up the fight. Heretofore
the fleet haf-+een kept son the Atlantic
coast. Hereafter there shall be q fleet
on the Pacific coast. The President is
more determined than ever. and so are
We.
Although We are satisfied in getting
two battleships this session and prom
ise OF two more next session, yet on the
bigger issue Of a greater navy the fight
has only begun"
View Of Some Naval 0mcers.
Although officers of the navy are
openly disappointed at the faiiure Of
the plan for the construction Of four
big battleships, they are somewIla. mol
lifted at the prospect Of a bigger navy
at the rate of two more batt:esnlps
every year. 1t is declared that the exc
cution Of such program may place the
United States as a naval power IN the
world ri n
the end Of the present decade. The only
drawback to the plan for increasing the
navy at the rate proposed is said to lie
in the possible inability of the present
pledges.
Several naval officers who were dis
cussing the matter this morning said
they were glad to hear that such power
son had given their personal assurance
of the increase in the navy at the rate
of two battleships a year. but they felt
that such assurances must necessarily
be taken with certain grains of allow
ance. for the reason that the senator's
might not be in u position ito deliver
| the goods" One Of those who took this
| rather discouraging view pointed out
| that the execution of the promised naval
/ program would DE very difficult, if not
entirely Impossible. unless there was a
| radical change of sentiment on the part
of the majority Of both houses Of Con-
gress. He added that the construction
| of two ships year could hardly be
considered very great advance over the
programs for several years past, which
| had resulted in making the United States
| Navy second only to that Of Great Brit
| ain in tonnage, and only slightly behind
the French navy In strength when ves-
sells now building are completed.
Strength Of Worlds Navies.
According to the latest figures prepared
| by the naval intelligence Office. which are
corrected up TO FEBRUARY l last, the
navies of the world stood in the following
order as to relative strength and impor-
! tance:
England. France. United States. Ger
| many Japan. Russia. Italy and Austria
| In making that list England Is given =;
! battleships. France IS battleships and t;ls
! United states z; battleships. not including
| the Idaho and the New Hampshire which
| have just been commissioned: Germany :.
| battleships and Japan II. A table of YES
| sells building or built February l credits
| England with additional battles hips
| France IL, the United States 9. German!
80.