The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-12-02
THE NAVY REPORT.

Acting on the proposal OF Winston
Churchill, First Lord Of the British Ad-
miralty, ,Iosephus Daniels, President
Wilson s Secretary of the Navy, rec
ommends in his annual report that
this country take the initiative IN pro-
posing a conference Of the powers to
reduce naval expenditures, That the
President should ask Congress for au-
thorizatiou 10 invite ali the powers
ito attend n conference TO discuss the
reduction of the heavy cost of armies
and uayics, is the plea of Secretary
Daniels.
IL was recognized that when Winston
Churchill made his proposal for one
wars cessation of battleship building
he was not the proper person nor Eng
land the proper country TO issue an
invitation for conference on the sub
iect. Indeed. all Of the great European
proposal, hoping, perhaps, that the
United States would take the initiative.
1t is emineutly fitting that this coun-
trv should issue the official call, inas-
much as we are less interested in the
limitation Of naval armament than the
nb;ef naval rivals of FuroDe
AS The Tribune has pointed out be-
fore, the principal opposition may be
expected from Germany The rapidly
increasing prosperity OF the German
Empire has made it possible for the
kaiser's government TO compete with
England on equal terms in the con-
struction Of dreadnoughts, and the
German people have looked forward to
time in the immediate future when
their navy would be as strong as or
stronger than England s. The do
minion Of the seas, which England has
held for centuries, is the prize toward
which Germany has been struggling
since the time of Bismarck, and now
that the German people see the prize
almost within grasp they Will be loath
to let it slip from them. II Germany
should hold ont against Winston
Churchill's proposal, the conference
would be futile.
Secretary Daniels goes a step farther
than the First Lord Of the British Adj
r. miralty. He declares in favor OF a
permanent policy 10 guard against ex-
travagant and needless expansions in
the navy, and ne proposes that the
economy be extended 70 the army as
well as the navy. He says:
No single nation. with large in
terests. can safely take q vacation in
the building OF batteships, That
much TO he desired vacation must
come through concerted action. II IL
Is not FASTENED by appeals for the
peaceful settlement of national olf-
ierences, the day is not far distant
when the growing burden Of taxation
for excessive war and naval expendi-
lures VIII call halt. The sugges-
ton OF vacation Tor one year in
batIleshlp building has met with
hearty approval and ! venture the
earnest hope that this will bear fruit
In we'll considered plan by navy
BUILDING nations not 10 let the un-
necessary competitions go to further
lengths 1t is manifeStly not posi-
BILE for the proposed cessation in bat
tlcship construction to be declared at
once. u 10 not a vacation we need
a
against extraYaGant and needless
pansions. ANY vacation proposed
would. Of course, take into account
the conditions in Government navy
yards and in private csta plishments
where bettleshlps are built under con-
tract The whole force is AZ present
concentrated in building ships for
which Material has been purchased.
Time should be given for ship5uiders
10 obtain commercial orders so as
no, 10 ask ship6uidcrs TO Incur
loss ! venture 10 recommend that
the war and navy officials and
other representatives of all the ma
tions lie invited 10 hold confer
Fence 10 discuss whether they can
not agree upon plan for iesscning
the cost OF preparation for war
Apparently a deviation from the
Presidents naval programme has been
decided upon. 1t was generally un.
derstood a few months ago that the
President favored the construction OF
three more dreaduoughts. Secretary
Daniels recommends but two This is
a move in the direction of econ omy
which will be approved By large con
tingent in the Democratic party, headed
by Mr. Bryan, but it is doubtful wheth
er it will meet the approval OF
tho country as whole. The last Con
gress decided against the usual two