Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-12-07
World Must Understand America
Is Prepared for War,
Says Meyer.
WARSH!P'S LIFE 20 YEARS
History Proves Futility and Dan
ger of Trusting to Even Most
Binding of Arbitra-
ton Treaties.

Washington, Dec with a plea that
there shall be no decrease in the effective
strength of the United states navy,
George Won l.. Meyer, secretary Of the
navy, in his annual report to Congress-
declares that while seeking peace and
playing leading part IN the movement
for general arbitration treaties, the world
must understand that America lis pre-
pared for war"
The short life of a warship for first or
second line of defence, approximately 20
years, has caused the secretary to ask
more ships this year, not to increase the
navy, hut to maintain it at its existing
strength. This strength, he says, is be-
ing diminished by the elimination fromac-
tive service of the battleships first con-
structed for the new navy"
"The recommendation. he says, "for
continuing naval policy which will give
us the fleet desired is made with due
regard for the almost worldwide move
ment for the settlement of International
disputes by arbitration. in which move
ment our country has taken a foremost
present, shows the futlity and danger of
trusting to the good will and fair deal
ing. or even to the most solemnly binding
treaties between nations for the protec-
ton of a nations sovereign rights and in
terests. and without doubt, the time is
remote when a comparatively unarmed
and helpless nation may be reasonably
safe from attack by ambitious well-armed
powers especially in a commercial age
such as the present. The economical sys-
TEN Of great commercial nation Is so
dcliCatelY balanced that even a threat
of war Is very disturbing and harmful
while war with any other great power
would cause incalculable damage. and it
is more necessary now than ever before
that we should he fully prepared and that
every other power should understand
that, while seeking peace, We are pre-
pared for war"
FAR BEHIND IN PROJECTS.
The United States, Secretary Meyer
says. IS far in the rear of the leading
naval powers in projected naval construc-
| ton, even on the basis of two new battle
ships year.
Mr. Never submits estimates for two
battleships and two Golfers only This
| is in line with the policy of several years
| standing Of building two hattleships a
year. In addition to this, the secretary
! indicates that the navy would welcome
one of the new type of battleship cruisers
! such as Great Britain. Germany and
| Japan are building. He further points
| out that there is a great deficiency in the
number Of cruisers, scouts. destroyers,
| submarines and auxiliaries for the main
tenance and protection of the battle fleet.
| He suggests that all of the auXiliaries
need not be ordered at once, but that the
| appropriation could be stretched over a
number of years. Disturbances in Asia
and Central America, necessitating the
protection of interests of this country,
J also have shown the need for more light
| draft Eunboats for river use.
The secretary declares that ships 81
years old are obsolete and worthless even
for the second line or reserve His list
shows the famous old Oregon and her sis
ter battleships. Indiana and Massa-
chusctts, as having reached the fatal
period and should be replaced Immediate
~. as well as the Iowa. In fact Secre-
tary Meyer names 70 hattleshipS that ear
no longer be regarded as available for
the first line OF battle and which should
be replaced by 1920, Aside from those al
ready indicated they are the Kearsarge
! Kentucky, Alabama. Illinois, Wisconsin
Maine, Ohio and Missouri. The youngest
of these has turned II years.
FORTY BATTLESHIPs NEEDED.
"A total OF 40 battlcships with n proper,
tional number of other fighting and auxil
larry vessels. Is the least that will plac,
our country on a safe basis in relation
with other world powers" says the sec
rotary
The secretary regards the creation o
the reserve fleet as a most important de
velopment of tho year since it will insur,
the readiness for war OF practically every
vessel of military value.
The report touches sparingly on thu
subject Of the eight-hour law. recitlng th'
experience of the department during thu
past year in placing contracts for ships
and winding up with the statement
What the effect will he on the biddnl
for the battleshps provided for by tn
last act Is problematical."
As to personnel. the report declares tina
the aim of all naval education and train
ing Is to produce the sea officer who Is t.
command ships and fleets and that al
the combatant elements aboard ship
should belong to the line. Line officer
hereafter should perform the duties o
paymaster and while the present con
Structon corps made up of NaVa
Academy graduates may continue to d
special work, the younger officers ma.
hereafter perform both line and con
structiOn duty.
TURBINE ENGINE ABANDONED.
The abandonment of the turbine engin
in favor of the old reciprocating type /
declared to have followed an oxhaustiv
comparison of the two kinds of ma
chinery. 1t was found that the recipro
eating engine Is about 80 per cent NOR
economical at cruising speeds than tn
turbine ana of about the same econom
at high speeds. As one result of the us
Of oil burners instead of coal furnace
the new battleships Oklahoma an
Nevada will each have but one smok
pipe, thus clearing the upper deck ant
improving the are of train of the turrets
At the close of last year - ships. iron
battleships to GOLFERS, were tied up a
navy yards under repair As result o
the new policy, by next March every on
| of them will be ready for active service