Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-05
SAYS COUNTRY NEEDS
GREATER POWER At SEA
Mr.. Britten introduces Bill AL
th0rizing Constructions of
Three Dreadnoughts.

Representative Fred A. Britten Of Chi
cago today introduced a resolution In the
House directing the committee on naval
affairs to report bill at the earliest
practical date, providing for an emerg-
ency appropriation sufficiently large to
make it possible to begin the immediate
construction of three additional battle
ships Of the dreadnought type. The pre-
amble of the resolution recites that the
continued unsettled condition Of our rela
tions with Japan and Mexico an the ap-
parent inability of the admnistrat- on to
cope with the situation have rendered SO
acute the anxieties of the people by our
unpreparedness for war as to make II
struction of at least this many battle
ships
Mr. Britten intends to use every effort
to secure a favorable consideration Of his
resolution at the first meeting Of the COM
mittee on naval affairs, Of which he Is a
member.
Quotes japanese Admiral.
In connection Herewith he will call the
attention Of the committee to a recent
statement Of Admiral Takarabe, the vice
minister of the Japanese navy, as pub
.ished in the Asahi Of Toxic, at secret
scheme was explained to a subcommittee
Of the lower house budget committee. in
which he said that lit was proposed to
form feet strong enough to beat feet
OF a certain foreign power which the
government had principally in view in
drawing up the naval program. The for
eign power In question was able Cor would
be able before long) to send its principal
squadron, consisting of twenty-one bat
q n<fN Sv,<<
certain waters which would form the
scene OF the next possible encounter in
war"
What expression could be more sig
nihcant; said Mr.. Britten. ..and what
more direct reference to the United
States and the opening of the Panama
canal could be made?
To-day Japan has built and is building
twelve dreadnoughts with total tom
mage Of 31O.75O tons against the United
States thirteen dreadnoughts with q
total tonnage Of 307.65O tons. The diff
ference in tonnage. slight though it be-
IS In favor of Japan. Power is the
climax to all argument. And yet in
Ine race or this information Congress
autnorized but one battleship last year
me raise economy of the last Con-
gress In declaring for a naval policy
INFERIOR to that Of Japan and Italy is
humiliation which can only be for
so.'en py heroic measures at this time.
Regarded as Most Important.
TO see that the navy is constantly
Duile up and kept to the highest point
OF enciency. both in material and per-
sonnet Is one of the most important
matters to be considered by Congress
from year to year. for il war should
come this nation must win. and the
prime factor in securing victory must
OF necessity be the navy. II the navy
rails us then we are doomed to defeat.
no matter what our resources may be.
or how high a type may be our patri-
otto citizenship.
Preparedness for war Is the best pro-
moter Of peace. and a navy of sufficient
size that is known abroad to be prepared
for war Is the strongest guarantee Of
peace: but q navy wnich Congress pre-
tends is ready for war, but which for
eign powers know to be unprepared, is
manifest danger.
"Battleships are cheaper than battles,
and / believe that the patriotic people of
this country-and in time of peace real
patriotism Is even more necessary than
in time Of war-are demanding battleship
insurance against war.
''The temporary loss Of control Of the
Pacific ocean to Japan would surely mean
the permanent loss of the Philippines, the
Hawaiian Island and Alaska