Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-01
Dewey ARGUES FOR
FIXED NAVAL POLICY
HEAD OF GENERAL NAVAL
BOARD DEMANDS THAT MA.
TON BE PREPARED.
UNITED STATES OCCUPIES
INFERIOR POSITION ON SEAS
Hero Of Manila Points Out Weakness
Of Present Position in Case War
Should coms-Nation Not Ready to
Abandon or Modify Any National
Policy.

Washington, Dec. I. - Admiral
Dewey's views of the naval program
the United States should adopt II 1t is
to guard its international policies In the
family of nations are transmitted to
President Wilson with the report OF
Secretary Daniels.
The admirars views. which embody
the recommendations of the navy gem
eral board are that the fleet should
consist Of forty eight battleships of the
line before 1920 If possible and that the
building program should begin this year
with four dreadnaughts, sixteen de-
stroyers, eight submarines and minor
craft. Admiral Dewey points out that
If four first class ships were laid down
this year, they would not increase the
strength Of the navy but would only
replace the Indiana, Massachusetts,.
Oregon and Iowa, which he declares
should be withdrawn even from the re-
serve line.
Not Question Of Politics.
Contending for q continuing building
policy unaffected by political parties or
change OF administration the report
says:
THE general board does not believe
the nation stands ready to abandon or
modify any Of these well-established
national policies:
mo entangling alliances.
The Monroe doctrine.
The open door in the far east.
"Asiatic exclusion.
Exclusive military control OF the
Panama canal and its contiguous
waters.
And repeats it's position that the
naval policy Of the country should be
to possess feet powerful enough to
prevent or answer any challenge to
these policies. The absolute strength
necessary to accomplish this is q ques-
ton that depends upon the national
policies Of prospective chauengers and
the force they can bring against us
and, hence. Is relative and varies with
their naval policies and building pro-
gram.
Position lnssrier.
1.-THE forecast Of the beard with re-
gard to naval development In other
countries has proved remarkably &C.
curate. The absence OF any definite
naval policy on our part, except In the
general board. and the failure Of the
people. the congress- and theeexecutivs
government to recognize the ne
cessity for such q policy, haS al
ready placed US in . position Of infer
iority which may lead to war; and, this
inferiority Is progressive and viii con-
tnue to increase until the necessity
for definite policy Is recognized and
that policy put into operation.
'-rhe general board. while adhering
to the policy It has consistently fol.
lowed for the past ten years, and be-
lieving that the naval needs Of the ma.
ton call for feet Of forty-eight ships
OF the first line in 1920, recognizes con-
ditions as they exist, and the futility OF
hoping or expecting that the ships and
men its policy calls for will be pro.
vided by 1920.
Responsibility 10 Fixed.
The board does believe, however, that
this result may be eventually attained
by the adoption by the government Of
a definite naval policy. and the putting
Of 1t before congress and the people
plearly and succinctly.
by this method responsibility for
any rupture OF our peaceful relations
with other nations due to our naval
''N<ss>~1Sst
war due to the Same cause. will DO de-
fnitely fixed. Tho general board be.
lieves that the people, with full under.
standing OF the meaning Of and rea-
sons. for naval power. win instruct the
legislative branch Of the government,
and that that branch. with the same
understanding. will provide the means.
By the adoption and advocacy of a
clearly defined. definite policy the de-
partment, with whom the responsible.
ity first rests, will have done its part.
and placed the responsibility with the
people and the legislative branch of the
government.
III the people. having been given the
meaning Of and the reasons for naval
power fail to instruct the congress the
responsibility and the resulting mater
ial loss and national humiliation rests
upon them: and II the congress having
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