The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-06
STRENGTH IS BEST
PEACE Gl!!!.!!e!AA!HTEE y
S0cxel
He Declares United States
Must be Prepared For
Any Emergency.
INTERNATIONAL
PEACE NO NEARER
Wants Three Battleships Of the Dread.
naught Glass Next Year-Expresses
Skepticism as to the Abolition of
War in the Near Future.

war In the Near Future.
Washington, Dec. 6.-The United
States must have a bigger navy and
must be prepared to meet any chance
Of war in the opinion Of Secretary
Meyer Of the navy department. IL It
Is to Preserve its national safety In
his annual report, made public to-
new battleships this year, and de-
clares that this country soon will fall
from second to fourth place In the
relative standing Of naval powers II 1t
continues the policy Of building only
two ships each year.
International peace has been
brought no nearer, the secretary de-
clares. SO far as a limitation of ar
maments is concerned. To guard its
coast and protect its commercial ac-
tivities, the United States needs a per-
tleships and battle cruisers-accord-
ing to Secretary Meyer. The present
strength Of the navy in battleships Is
about thirty three. but four ships will
soon he retired as obsolete.
Secretary Meyers report is a recital
of the development Of the navy dur
ing the year. with few recommenda-
tions beyond those contained in his
former reports. He gives chief em-
phasis to his recommendation that the
navy be increased according to pro-
present position among the world
powers: and the suggestion that con-
gress 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 defense.
New Battleships Asked.
For tho coming year the secretary
of the navy urges that congress ap-
propriatc money for three battleships
of the dreadnaught class and for two
battle cruisers. sixteen destroyers, six
Of auxiliaries to include Transports,
supply ships. tugs. tenders and dry
dock. The navy general board recon-
mends four battleships; and Secretary
Meyer points out that even though this
number should he authorized 1t 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
warning. he says, and only by the
possession Of an efficient fleet of ade-
Quate size will the country be safe
from attack and free to work out its
own destiny in peace and without hin.
drance.
Can't Trust to Good Will.
1.-THE history Of all times. including
the present, shows the futility and
danger Of trusting to the good will
and fair dealing. and even to the
most solemnly binding treaties be-
tween nations for the protection Of a
nations sovereign rights and inter-
the time Is remote when a compare
lively unarmed and helpless nation
may be reasonably free from attack
by ambitious. well-armed powers. es-
pecially in commercial age. such as
the present. The economical system
of a great commercial nation Is so
delicately balanced that even a threat
of war is very disturbing and HARM
full while a war with any other great
power would cause incalculable dam
age.
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 possession
of great wealth, resources and 'popula-
ton, does not carry with 1t immunity
from attack should the nations in
terests clash with those Of another
better prepared"
Canal Doesn't Double Fleet.
The opening of the Panama canal
will in no sense double the American
While It will increase its efficiency
by facilitating it's passage from one
coast to the other, this condition has
been fully considered in calculating
the naval program. Without the ca
nal, says Secretary Meyer. experts
figure that the United States would
need fleet double that Of country
whose coast line is continuous.
The secretary estimates that total
of forty-one battleships with a pro-
portional number Of other fghting
and auxiliary vessels. Is the least that
would place this country on a safe
basis in its 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 torpedo boats and sub
Marines the secretary expresses the
belief that until more or the OLD bat-
tleships are replaced it is wiser to
build battleships than smaller yes.
sells.
Need Swifter ships.
As to the need Of battle cruisers.
the swifter ships Of the first line OF
defense. Secretary Meyer quotes the
naval general board:
'The United States has no vessels
Of this type They have q military
value not possible to obtain from 9TH
or types or combinations of types. To
further neglect their necessity IL to de-
liberately weaken our naval strength.
The paramount need Of the nnvy. IT,
however. for battleships. and the
board does not recommend any mod
ification Of the building program by
which preference In building In given
to hattie cruiscrs or other fleet units.
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