Evening journal., 1913-01-04
ADVOCATES OF 4 BIG NAVY.

TUE Navy Ieague OF the United States has is
sued pamphlet setting forth what It asserts
sixty-seven why the United States should
maintain strong navy. We doubt that It will be
pleasing to those advocates OF international peace
who favor disarmament programme and insist
that large armies and nayes not only incite nations
60 to war but also constitute great drains upon
the Of nations in time OF peace. IL is diff
hcult how the pamphlet be permitted TO go
unchallenged.
ciety. of which General Horace Porter is president
II advocates the following action by Congress- TO
provide Council Of National Defense. which will de-
eide the countrys naval policy and standard; to
make the appropriations to carry out con-
timing and consistent program Of naval construction;
to Increase the efficiency Of the Personnel Of the
navy by a reformed system OF promotion for officers;
to make the Naval Militia subject to the call of the
President in time of to provide Naval Re
which will include honorably discharged men
Of the navy, the Naval Militia and from the
chant marine, and to encourage strong merchant
marine which auxiliary to the navy
in time OF
The League contends that sea power was mdispen-
sable 10 the Of the War OF the Revolution. The
navy suppressed the commerce by the pirates
OF the Barbary States. Il also fought and won the
War Of 1912. In the Ciyn War, the League asserts,
the Union was preserved and the determined
much by the blockading navy as by the army Of
the North The navy decided the outcome of the Span
ish War, which never would have taken place. the
League says. had Spain known navys strength.
II is pointed ont that national humiliation following
naval weakness was illustrated by the outrageous
treatment accorded TO American seamen in Cuba by
Spain IN 1873 Englands navy has given to Great
Britain uninterrupted peace the water for nearly
100 years and shores have not been successfully
invaded for almost 1000 years. Chinas policy Of
evading militarism on both land and sea has been
accompanied by disastrous defeats and untold hum-
iaton Germany was defenseless and her enc
mics swarmed her borders and took possession Of
her land Germany, with an adequate army and
navy. has been practically free from land or
sea for forty years and The League also calls
attention the that Turkey lost Tripol to Italy
because of the pitiful weakness of the Turkish navy
BY am oversight that it difficult to understand the
League fails TO make any mention Of the important
part the Japanese navy played in defeating Russia
and making of Japan the dominant power in Asia.
One Of the leading points made by the League In
supporting the movement for large navy is that
battleships are cheaper than battles and that the
money for American bateships is paid to American
worl1ingmon. builders and craftsmen
There IS one phase OF the legislation proposed that
the League asserts, opponents of large navy
advocate consistently tho grounds Of increas-
ed efficiency and economy. That is to increase the
standing Of the personnel of the navy by a reformed
system OF promotion for officers IL remains to be
seen whether that or any other part OF the naval
plan proposed by the League will win the OPP
ponents OF a large navy There is no doubt however.
that at this time, public sentiment i'm the United
States is overwhelmingly in favor of navy large
enough defend home coasts and those of our
insuar possessions and defend the national honor
matter by what other nation It may be as
sailed.