Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1911-12-02
LIFE Of WARSH|P
IS ONLY ABOUT
TWENTY YEARS
SAYS MEYER
Secretary Of Navy in Report
Which Will Be Submitted
to Congress Monday Pleads
for More Battleships.
AMERICA Is FOR
PEACE BUT CAN FIGHT

fHy Evenfnn NeFaid \. v. Leased Wtfcl
Washington. d. G., Dec. win a
plea that there shall be no decrease
IN the effective strength of the United
latatcs navy. George Won l.. Meyer,
secretary OF the navy. In his annual
report 10 congress. declares that
while seeking peace and playing o
leading part in the movement Tor gen.
eral arbitration treaties the world
must understand that America is
prepared Tor war"
The short life OF a warship for first
or second line OF approx
mately twenty years-hns caused the
secretary 10 ask more ships this year,
not 10 Increase the navy. but TO main
tain IL nj It's existing strength. This
strength, he says II being diminished
lby the elimination rom active service
OF The haiileships FIRST constructed for
the new navy"
| The recommendation, be says,
Tor continuing naval policy when
viii give us the fleet desired Is made
with a due regard for the almost
world vide movement for the settle.
nent OF international disputes by arr
| biirution. IN which movement our
country has taken foremost part.
History Of all kinds, including the
present shows the utility and dan
ger OF trusting to the good will ana
inir dealing. or oven 10 the most sol.
EMMY binding treaties between ma
lions Tor the protection OF a nation =
sovereign rights and interests. and
without doubt. the time II remote
wnen comparatively unarmed and
helpless nation may ne reasonably
safe from attack by ambitious. well
armed powers, especially In Il COM
merclal age such as the present. The
economical sysiem OF great com.
mercial nation ~ so delieately bal
nnced tina, even threat o: war u
very disturbing aud harmful. while n
war with any other great power
would cause incalcuia5le damage. and
| IL h more necessary now than ever
before that we should be fully pre-
pared and that every other power
should understand that. while seek
f, ing peace. we are prepared for war.
| The United States. Secretary Mey.
err says, Is far IN the rear OF the
leading naval powers In projected
naval construction, even on the basis
OF two new battleships year
Mr Meyer submits estimates far
40 Dattleahlps and two coilloIs only
This Is In line With the policy at sew
oral years standing OF building two
ibhttleships year. IN addition "a thls
the secretary indicates that the navy
would welcome one OF the new type
OF battleahip cruisers. such as Great
Britain. Germany and Japan are
Building. lie further points out that
there II 4 great deficiency In the num-
Der OF cruisers, acouts. deatroyers
submarines and auxiilBrles Tor the
maintenance and protection OF the
battle fleet.
lie suggests that all OF these anxi-
llaries need not lie ordered NJ once
but that the appropriation could be
sirotched over q nnnber OF years
Disturbances In Aain anc Cen,ral
America, necessi,atlng the protection
OF interests OF this country. ALSO have
lshown the need for more light drati
lgDnboais for river use
The secretary declares that ships
20 years old are obsolete and worth
less even Tor the second line or re
serve. His list shows the famous oic
Oregon and hef sister baitleships in.
diana and Massachusetts as havini
reached the fatal period and should
be replaced Immediately as we'll al
the Iowa. In fact, Secretary Meyel
names twelve battieshipE that can NJ
longer be regarded ~ available To-
the frat line OF battle and whici
should he replaced by 1920. Ahid'
from those already Indicated thel
are the kearsarge, Kentucky. Ala
bRma. Illinois Wisconsin, Maine
IOhlo and Missouri. The youngest o
lthcac has turned eleven years.
"A total OF forty battleshlps with