The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-12-07
READY
FOR BATTLE
MUST We Be
Says Secretary of the Navy,
Though We Are Seeking
World Peace.
HONOR OF THE WORLD
Is All Very Good But 1t is
Not Always to Be
Trusted.

WASHINGTON Dec. 2-with =
plea that there shall be no decrease
in the effective strength of the Uni.
ted States navy. George Won L.
Meyer, secretary of the navy, in his
annual report to Congress, declares
that while seeking peace and play
ing a leading part in the movement
for general arbitration treaties the
world must understand that America
is prepared for war"
The short life OF warship for
first or second line of defense-ap-
proximately twenty years-has
caused the secretary to ask more
ships this year, not to increase the
navy, but TO maintain It at its exist
ing strength. This strength, he says.
Is being diminished by the elimina-
ton from active service OF the battle
ships first constructed for the new
navy
The recommendation, he says
for continuing naval policy which
will give US the feet desired is made
with due regard for the almost
worldwide movement for the settle
ment of international disputes BY
arbitration, in which movement our
country has taken formost part.
History ofaall kinds, including the
7 present, shows the futility and danger
4 trusting to the good will and fair
,ealing, or even to the most solemn
y binding treaties between nations
or the protection Of a nations SOW
areign rights and interests. and with
nut doubt, the time is remote when
comparatively unarmed and help
less nation may be reasonably safe
rom attack by ambitious. well armed
lowers. especially in a. commercial
age such as the present. The
economical system of great COM
mercial nation is SO delicately bal
need that even threat OF war is
very disturbing and harmful while a
war with any other great power
would cause incalculable damage,
and It is more necessary now than
ever before that we should be fully
prepared 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 year.
Mr.. Meyer submits estimates for
two battleships and two golfers anlH
This is in line with the policy of
several years standing of building two
battlesh!ps 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 great deficiency in the
number of cruisers, scouts, destroy
ers. submarines and auxiliaries for
the maintenance and protection OF
the battle feet.
He suggests that all of these aux
'linries need not be ordered at once
but that the appropriation could be
stretched over a number of years.
Disturbance in Asia and Central
America, necessitatlng the protection
Of interests of this country. also have
shown the need for more light draft
eunboats for river use.
| The secretary declares that ships
twenty years old are obsolete and
worthless even for the second line or
reserve. His list shows tie famous
old oregon and her sister b2ttleships
Indiana and Massachusetts as having
reached the fatal period and shouId
be replaced immediately, as well as
the Iowa. In fact Secretary Meyer
names twelve battleships that can
no longer be regarded as available
for the first line OF battle and which
should be replaced by 1920. Aside
from those already indicated they
are the Kearsarge, Kentucky Ala
bama, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maine,
Ohio and Missouri. The youngest o.
s=:-:=E-z-=============== =s=.====--=-----=--==