The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-12-01

48 BaHeshibs
Continued fronPaEs one
countries has proved remarkably act
clrate The absence OF any definite
naval policy on our part, except In.
General board, and the failure of
people, the congress, and. the ex.
cntiys government to recognize the
necessity for such q policy has al
ready placed u.s. in a position OF In
etiorIty which may lead to war; and
ills. ilferiortty is progressive and
dll continue to increase until the
Necessity for a definite policy is rec
ogiizel and that policy put into ope-
4tion.
Naval Needs.
THE General Board, while adhes'
ttig to tile policy IT has consistently
followed for the past 10 years, and
believing that the naval needs Of the
nation call for a fleet Of 4S ships Of
Gle first line in 1920, recognizes coll
ditions as ~theyexist, and the futility
ofslioping or expecting that the ships
and men its policy calls for will
be provided by 1920.
ssTle board does believe, however,
that this result may be eventually
attained by the adoption by the goY-
ernment OF a definite naval policy.
and!t putting Of 1t before congress
and the people clearly and succinet-
":
'By this method responsibility for
any rupture of our peaceful relations
with other nations due to our naval
weakness, or any national disaster In
war due to the same cause, will be
definitely fixed. The General Board
believes that the, people. with full
Understanding Of the meaning OF and
reasons for naval power, will instruct
the Legislative branch Of the govern.
rient, and that that branch. with the
same understanding. will provide the
mcanseSsBy the sadoptionaand advp'
cacy Of a clearly defined, definite poi
Icy The department, with Whom the
responsibility ,ltrstS rests. aHiIl have
done. its p~artSand placed the respo4-
sibility with the people and the lcgis-
lative branch Of the government.
Would Rest With People.
III the people, having been given
thc meaning OF and the reasons foT
naval power, fail to instruct the con
grcss the responsibility and the re-
sulting material loss and national hu-
initiation rests upont hem; and II
the congress, having been instructed
by the people, fails to provide the
means, then the responsibility is
theirs.
"Thc General Board believes that
onlya lack OF understanding of these
views by the people at large pre-
vents the adoption Of a consistent
naval policy; and recommends to tIH
department u system of extended
publicity in all matters relating u
naval policy, acting through patriotic
organizations, the press, or by what
ever means a knowledge of the naval
needs Of the nation may be brought
home to the people Of the country
with tile meaning and reasons FOL
them. Tie General Board believes
mat an understanding by the nation
Of the navy's role as n ~guarantor OF
neace and an upholdcr of those doc
trines and policies which have be
come q; part and parcel of our M
tiSnal.existence will fix a naval poi
icyStIat will meet those needs.
haFEom year to year, since the for'
mationio Of chose opinions in 1907 Tx
General Board. has consistently rec
commended a building program basel
on the. policy of a 4S-battleshiI
strength in 1920, with necessary les
ser units and auxiliaries; and tRes'
recommendations have varied only Il
me lesser units Of the fleet, as DC
.yelopments and Improvements laV,
varied the relative value of those les
q units and the auxlliaries.
"Irlese recommendations have beer
made in the pursuance of q fixed am
definite policy adopted by the boar'
for its guidance, after mature an
deliberate consideration of all TIT