The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-05-21
NO APPROPRIATION
FOR bATTLESH|PS
(Ey Winfield Jones)

Itself to no appropriation for bat
tleships this year the house has in
the opinion of department officials
and navy officers, initiated policy
that promises to be permanent in
evil effect and far-reaching in un
happy consequences. Secretary OF
Navy Meyer declares that this ac
ton is the first step in the direction
of declining navy.
''lt WILL he said, "1epreciate the
military value OF the fleet as all
insurance against war and will ar
rest progress Even if year from
now we rei.ew the building program
of two battleships year, the rela-
tive positions Of the great sea pow
ers on December 81, 1915, would De
as follows: Great Britain, Germa-
ny, France, Japan and the United
States. Only year ago the United
States was second
The leaders of TIE house are
losing sight of the political and mil
itary necessity OF the command of
the Pacific, and so far as can be
foreseen at present, the United
States will lie the only important ma
val power in the world this year
which will not lay down single
capital ship"
In his annual report last year Sec
retary Meyer put himself sHlarelv
on record as to what, in his opn
ion and in the opinion Of his naval
experts in the department, fleet in
crease demanded by national de
fenses. Condensed his declaration
was as follows
The policy OF replacing old bat
tlesnlps at the rate OF two each
year if continued indefinitely, will
give us eventually, though not so
soon as is to be desired, total of
40 battleships. of which 20 less than
ten years old Would constitute the
first line, and the remaining 20 be-
tween ten and tw enty years old the
second line.
This total of 40 ba.tleships, with
proportional number of other fight
ing and auxiliary vessels, is the least
that will place the country OF
safe basis in its relations with other
world powers.
AN examination of the shipbuid-
ing Programs of the principal naval
powers shows that great activity in
warship construction is everywhere
manifest. The manner in which the
policy of the Allbig gun battleship
now finds universal acceptance is
particularly Illustrated.
Until this year. Germany has
been alone in formulating and OBJ
serving continuous shipbuilding
program. For the ten years begin
ming 1908 and ending 1917 provi-
sion has been made for eighteen
batrleships and ten armored cruisers.
In addition to this increase Germany
annually provides for twelve destroy
ers and number of submarines. the
object being to have in 1917 a total
strength of SO battleships, 20 ar
mored cruisers. and 3S small cruis-
ers-all 20 be less than twenty years
old. and IA torpedo boats to be
under twelve years old.
Great Britain has no fixed pro
gram, but her policy is to maintaiI.
a standard that will leave her 10
per cent more powerful at sea than
the combined navies of any two OF
the next strongest naval powers.
'On February of this year the
French chamber authorized a new
law and n new program, which is
intended to be a guiding policy up
to December 81, 1920. This is not a
mailman program, and is meant
only as foundation on which to
build further.
1T will finally include the i5 bat
tleships asked by the council supe-
rior in 1909 1t provides for % bat
tleships. 10 scouts, 80 seagoing tor
pedo boats and "a submarines.
The Japanese diet has recently
authorized the amalgamation of the
existing shipbuilding program and
appropriations into one. The total
sum available amounts to Sl23,S59,-
4S3 to be expended by 1917. and OF
this sum s7S,S3159l has been set
aside for the oonstruc,-on of ships
of war.
The United States has no naval
program, but here is what the ma
val committee of the house has
recommended es this years total
fleet increase Six destroyers, four