The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-12-12
Says the Secretary Of the
Navy in His Annual
Report to Congress.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. g.
The United States must have a big
ger navy and must be prepared to
meet any chance of war in the opln-
ion OF Secretary Meyer of the navy
department, if it is to preserve the
national safety. IN his annual re.
port just made public Secretary
Meyer pleads for three new battle
ships this year, and declares that
this country will soon fall from sec
ton to fourth place in the relative
standing of naval powers, If 1t con-
tinues the policy of building only
two ships each year.
International peace has been
brought no nearer, the secretary de-
clares, so far as limitation of
ornaments is concerned. To guard
its coasts and protect its commercial
activities, the United States needs a
permanent navy of forty-one capital
ships-battleships and battle cruls-
according to Secretary Meyer.
Tho present strength Of the navy In
battleships is about thirty-three, but
four ships will socsl be retired as
obsolete.
Secretary Meyers report is re-
cital of the development of the navy
during the year, with few recon-
mendations beyond those contained
in his former reports. He gives
chief emphasis to his recommends
ton that the navy be increased ac-
cording to a program that will keep
the nation in its present position
among the World powers; and the
suggestion that Congress remove the
limit upon the amount of money
that can be spent for aviation and
permit the navy to compete with the
like establishments of other nations
in developing aerial methods of de-
Tense.
For the coming year the secretary
of the navy urges that Congress ap-
propriate money for three battle
ships of the Dreadnaught class and
for two battle cruisers, sixteen de-
stroyers, six submarines, two gun
boats, and fleet of auxiliar!es to
include transports, supply ships,
tugs, tenders and dry-dock. The
navy general board recommends
four battleships; and Secretary
Meyer points cut that even though
this number should be authorized
it would mean no real increase in
the navy as four ships are soon to
be retired because they will have
passed the age of twenty years.
Secretary Meyer expresses skepti-
cism as to the abolition of war in
the near future. Wars come with
little or no warning. he says, and
only by the possession OF an eff
flc!ent fleet of adequate size will the
country be safe from attack and
free to work out its own destiny in
peace and without hindrance.
"The history of all times, includ-
ing the present, shows the futility
and danger of trusting to the good
will and fair dealing, and even to
the most solemnly binding treaties
between nations for the protection
of nations sovereign rights and
interests" he says, "and without
doubt the time is remote when
comparatively unarmed and helpless
nation may be reasonably free from
attack by ambitious, well-armed
powers, especially in commercial
age, such as the present. The eco
nomical system of a great COM
mercial nation is so delicately bal
anced that even threat OF war is
very disturbing and harmful while
a war with atay other great power
would cause incalculabIe damage.
ITO avoid war and insure peace
the country must be prepared for
war. No person of intelligence who
has studied international policies can
be blind to the fact that the pos
session of great wealth, resources
and population, does not carry with
it immunity from attack should the
nations interests clash with those
of another better prepared"
The opening OF the Panama canal
win IN no sense double the Amerl-
can fleet, according to Secretary
Meyer. While it will increase It's
efficiency by facilitating its passage
from one coast to the other, this
condition has been fully considered
in calculating the naval program.
Without the canal, says Secretary
Meyer, expents figure that the United
States would need fleet double
that Of any other country whose
coast line is continuous.
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