The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-12-06
Policy Of Only Two Each Year
viii Soon Reduce Nation
to Fourth Place
SENDS IN HIS ANNUAL REPORT

Washington, Dec 6.-The United
States must have "a bigger navy and
must be prepared To meet any chance
Of war is the opinion of Secretary
Meyer of the Navy Department, il it Is
To preserve It's national safety. In his
annual report made public today, Sec
retary Meyer pleads for three new
battleships this year. and declares that
this country soon viii fall from second
10 fourth place I'm the relative stand
ing of naval powers, If IL continues the
policy of building only two ships each
year
International peace has been brought
no nearer, the secretary declares, 50
far as limitation of armamcnts Is
concerned. To guard its coast aud
protect it's commercial activities, the
United States needs permanent raNy
Of II capital hips-battleships ana
battle cruisers-according To Secretary
Meyer. The present strength of the
navy in battleships is about S3, but A
ships Will soon be retired as obsolete.
Asks Aid Fer Aviation.
Secretary Meyers report is a recital
Of the development Of the navy during
the year with few recommendation
beyond those contained in his former
reports. He gives chief emphasis 10
his recommendation that the navy 5e
increased according To a program that
will keep the nation in It's present 30
sitiOn among the world powers; and
the suggestion that Congress remove
the limit upon the amount of money
that can be spent for aviation and per
NIT the navy developing aerial meth
ods of defense.
For the coming year the secretary
Of the navy urges that Congress APP
propriate money for three battleships
Of the Dreadnaught class and for two
battle cruisers. sixteen destroyers, six
submarines. two gunboats, and a fleet
of auNiliaries to include transports
supply ships tugs, tenders and dry
dock. The navy general board rec
ommends four battleships. and Secre-
tary Meyer points out that even
though this number should be author
ized IL 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.
Strong Navy Means Peace.
Secretary Meyer expresses skepti-
cism as To the abolition of war In the
near future. Wars come with littlr 81
no warning he says and only by the
possession of an efficient fleet of ade-
quate size will the country he safe
from attack and free To work OUT IL"
own destiny In peace and without min
drance.
The history of all times, including
the present shows the tutility ana
danger of trusting To the good viii ana
fair dealing and even To the m"st
solemnly binding treaties between ma
tions for the protection of Il nation
sovereign rights and interests, he
says, and without doubt the time is
remote when Il comparatively uharm'
ed and helpless nation may be rea-
sonably free from attack by ambi
tious, well-armed powers, especially III
commercial age. such as the pres
ent The economical system of a great
commercial nation Is so delicately pal
anced that even threat of war Is
very disturbing and harmful while
war with any other great power Wouid
cause incalculable 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 10
the fact that the possession Of great
wealth. resources and population, does
not carry with 1t immunity from al
tack should the nations interests ciash
with those of another better prepared
The opening of the Panama cana
will In no sense double the American
fleet. according TO Secretary Meyer
While II will increase its efficiency bN
facilitating It's passage from one coast
TO the other, this condition has been
considered In calculating the naVai
program. without the canal says see
retary Meyer, experts figure that the
United States would need heet dou-
BILE that Of country whose coast line
Is continuous.
N 6attIeships Needed.
The qarrator,, actip.afec that total