Arizona republican., 1911-12-03
GoVcrnmeRt Will Pursue O|d
 Line Policy REPORT IS FILED
Many Matters of Interest to General Readers Are Dealt With in MT. Mey- er's Annual Statement to President.

WASHINGTON. December With
 plea that there shall be no de-
 crease in the effective strength of
 the United States navy. George von
 l.. Meyer. secretary of the navy, in
 his annual report to congress. de-
 clares that while seeking peace and
 playing d leading part in the move
 ment for general arbitration treaties
 the world must understand that Am
 erica is prepared for war"
 The short life of a warship for first or second line of defense approximately twenty years - has caused the secretary to ask more ships this year, not to increase the navy. but to maintain it at its eX- istinS strength This strength. he says. Is being diminished by the eli imitation from active service of the battleships first constructed for the new navy
 The recommendation" he says. for a continuing naval policy which will give Us the fleet desired is made with a due regard for the almost world wide movement for the settle mcnt of international disputes by ar bitration. in which movement our country has taken foremost part
 History of all kinds. including the present. shows the futility and danger of trusting to the good will and fair in +f binding treaties between nations for the protection of nations sover- eign rights and interests, and with out doubt. the time is remote when comparatively unamed and help less nation may be reasonably safe from attack by ambitious. well armed powers, especially in a commercial age such as the present The economical system Of great com mercial nation is so dclicately bal anced that even threat of war is very disturbing and harmful. while q war with any other great power would cause incalculable damage. and it is more necessary now than ever before that we should be fully pre- pared and that every other power should understand that. while seek ing peace. We are prepared for war"
 The United States Secretary Meyer says. is far in the rear of the lead ing naval powers in projected naval construction, even on the basis of two new battleships a year.
 Mr. Meyer submits estimates for two battleships and two colliers only This is in line with the policy of sev- eraI years standing of building two battleships 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 num- Der of cruisers, scouts. dcStroycrs, sub marines and auxilaries for the maintenance and protection of the battle fleet.
 He suggests that all of these aux iliaries need not be ordered at once but that the appropriation could bc stretched over number of years. Disturbances in Asia and Central America, necessitating the protection Of interests of this country, also have shown the need for more light draft 1 gunboats for river use.
 The secretary declares that ships % years old are obsolete and worth less even for the second line or re- serve. His list shows the famous old oregon and her sister battleships | Indiana and Massachusetts as hay l 
 should be replaced immediately. as | well as the Iowa. In fact Secretary | Meyer names twelve battleships that | can no longer be regarded as avail | able for the first line of battle and ! which should be replaced by 1920 | Aside from those already indicated ] they are the Kearsarge. Kentucky. | Illinois, Wisconsin, Maine, | Ohio and Missouri. The youngest | of these has turned eleven years.
 "A total of forty battleships with l q proportional number of other fight | ing and auxiliary vessels. is the least | that will place our country on q safe | basis in relation with other world | powers" says the secretary.
 The secretary regards the creation | of the reserve fleet as a most inn | portant development of the year | since it will insure the readiness for |
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