Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-10
THREE BATTLESHIPS
ASKED FOR BY MEYER
Secretary of Navy Makes Re-
port to Congress Pleading
for Larger Navy
rRr A..osistsa Press.l


WASHINGTON, Dec e.-The United
must be prepared to meet any chance of
war. in the opinion Of Secretary Meyer.
Of the navy department. if it is to pre-
serve it's national safety. In his an
nual report. made public today, secre-
tary Meyer pleads for three new bat
tleships this year. and declares that this
country soon viii fall from second to
fourth place in the relative standing
Of naval ppwers. if it continues the
policy OF building only two ships each
year.
InteI national peace mas been brought
no nearer, tho secretary declares, so
far as a Limitation of ornaments is
concerned. To guard it's coast and pro-
tect its commercial activities. the Unit
ed States needs permanent navy of
fcrty-one capital ships-battleships and
battle understanding 20 Secretary
Meyer. The present strength of the
navy in battleships is about thirty-three,
but four ships will soon be retired as
( bsolete.
For the coming year the secretary Of
the navy urges that congress appropri-
ate money for three battleships Of the
dreadnaught class and for two battle
cruisers, sixteen destroyers. six sub
marines. two gunboats and a fleet of
auxiIiaries to include transports, supply
ships, tugs, tenders and a dry dock
The navy general board recommends
four battleships, and Secretary Meyer
points out that even though this num-
Der should be authorized it would mean
no real increase in the navy, as four
ships are soon to be retired because
they viii have passed the age Of twenty
years.
WAR WILL CONTINUE
Secretary Meyer expresses skepticism
as to the abolition Of war in the near
future. Wars come with little or no
warning, he says, and only by the pos
session of an efficient fleet of ade-
ouste size will the country be safe from
attack and free to work out its own
destiny in peace and without hinderance.
ITO avoid war and insure peace the
country must be prepared for war,
SAYS the secretary. mo person or
intelligence who has studied inter
national policies can be blind to the
fact that the possession 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 viii
in no sense double the American fleet,
according to Secretary Meyer. While it
will increase its efficiency by facilitat-
ing it's passage from one coast to the
other, this condition has been fully con-
sfdered in calculating the naval pro-
gram. without the canal. says Secre-
tary Meyer, experts figure that the
United States would need a feet double
nuf line %
continuous.
NEED "ONI,Y" Al BATTLESHIPS.
The secretary estimates that q total
OF forty-one battleships, with pro-
portioual number Of other lighting
and auxiliary vessels. is the least that
would place this country on a safe
basis in it's relations with other world
powers. This feet should be secured
as soon as practicable. he said, and its
strength should be maintained by re-
placing obsolete vessels with new
ones by a uniform annual program.
While the navy department would
welcome more tropedo boats and sub
marines, the secretary expresses the
belief that until more of the old bat
tleships are replaced IL is wiser to
build battleships than smaller vessels.
Aeroplane equipment is entirely in
adequate at the present time. accord
ing to Secretary Meyer.
He recommends the creation Of a ma
val reserve OF about $1,000 men, and
rs. 900 to be secured from the honor
ably discharged men Of the navy, the
naval militia and various mechanical
trades Of civil life; the other $4,000
from among sailors Of the merchant
marine.
The application OF the eight-hour
law TO all shipyards, says Secretary
Meyer, will probably cause an increase
in the appropriation necessary 20 build
ships OF a given type