El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-12-06
MUST HAVE GREAT
NAVY, SAYS MEYER
Present Policy Is Dangerous
to American Prestige,
Declares Secretary.

Washington. D. C, Dec. 6-The
| United States must have bigger navy
/ and must be prepared TO meet any
chance OF war, IN the opinion of secre-
/ tary Meyer, Of the navy department If
I II IS to preserve its national safety In
MS annual report secretary Never
pleads for three new battIeships this
! year, and declares that this country
soon viii fall from second TO fourth
pace In the relative standing of naval
powers, If it continues the policy of
I building only two ships each year.
International peace has been brought
no nearer, the secretary declares. so
lar as a Hmitat iOn of ornaments is
4 concerned. To guard its coast and pro
tect its commercial activities the
United states needs a permanent navy
of Il capital ships-battleships and
battle ruisers-accOrding- to secrets ~
Meyer. The present strength of the
navy IN batueships is about So but
FOUR SHIPS viii soon be retired as OBJ
sOlete.
Secretary Meyers report is a recital
Of the development o. me navy during
the year, with few recommends tions
beyond those contained in his former
reports. He gives chief emphasis to
ms recommendation that the navy be
increased according to a program that
VIII keep the nation in its present no.
Sltlon among the world powers and
the suggestion that congress remove
the limit upon the amount of money
p
mt the navy to compete with the like
establishments Of other nations in de-
veloping aerial methods of defence
Asks For Many Vessels.
or the coming year the secretary
Of the navy urges that congress appro-
pirate money for three battleshiOs OF
she dreadnaUght class and for two
cruisers, 10 desSrOyers, six submarines
Two SunDoats and fleet of auxiliaries,
TO include transports, supply ships
tugs, tenders and a drydock. The navy
general board recommends four bartIe-
ships, and secretary Meyer points out
mat even, though this number should
De authorized, II would mean no real
increase in the navy, as four ships are
soon to be retired because they will
have passed the age of 20 years.
secretary Meyer expresses skepti-
clsm as TO the abolition of war in the
near future. Wars come with little or
no warning. he says, and only bv the
possession OF an efficient fleet of ade-
quate size viii the country be safe
from attack and free to work out its
own destiny in peace and without hin
drance.
To 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 it immunity from attack
should the nations interests clash with
those of another better prepared, !" de-
clareS the secretary
The opening of the Panama canal vii,
in no sense double the American fleet
according to secretary Meyer While
II will increase its efficiency by facili-
tatlng its passage from one coast to
the other. this condition has been fully
considered in calculating the naval
program. Without the canal. saws sec
rotary Meyer, experts figure that the
United states would need a fleet
double that of a country whose coasr
line Is continuous
Aeroplane equipment is entirely made
quate at the present time according, tn I
secretary Meyer He points out that
while the United States spent only
$4,000 for this purpose last wear.
Japan spent 100000 and five European
nations spent individual sums ranging
from $2,OOO,00O to $4,000 600. the Latter
being the expenditure of France. Sec
rotary Meyer says there should be no
Limitation upon the progressive devel-
opment of naval aviation.
He recommends the creation of a
naval reserve of about 50. 600 men
$4,000 to be secured from the honorablv /
discharged men of the navy. the naval /
militia, and various mechanical trades-i
of civil life; the other $4,000 from
among sailors of the merchant marine /