The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1913-01-30
NAVAL FIGHT WARM
QUESTION OF BUILDING NEW
8ATTLEsHtPs INTERESTS
coNGREssMEN.
DIVISION IS NOT PARTISAN
Underwood, Leading Opponents Of In.
crease, May Be Forced to compro.
mise-one or Even Two Great Yes.
sells May Be Authorized.
BY GEORGE CLINTON


Washington.-No other piece of leg.
lslation now before congress or to
come before it prior to the incoming
OF the new administration stirs the
personal interest of the members so
mucn as the question of the increase
IN the strength of the navy by the
building of one, two or three battle
ships. Congress in a way is divided
into two forces, land force and a
sea force. and the signal is set for a
night between the two.
Representative Oscar w. Under.
wood, the Democratic leader, Is not
In favor Of adding another battleship,
let alone two or three, to the navy at
this session. 1t seems likely. how
ever, that Mr.. Underwood may com
promise as he did once before to the
extent of withholding his opposition
to navy building program which
shall contain provision for only one
great ship of the line"
If Mr.. Underwood, who believed
with good many Democrats that the
money spent for battleships should
be put into the improvement of riv-
ers and harbors and into public build
1ngs, does not agree to with hold his
opposition there seems to be a strong
chance that the Democrats who are
kindly disposed to the navy will defy
leadership's wishes and, with Repub-
lican aid. sanction an appropriation
for one ship and possibly for two
ships. Whether it be one or two, it
Is certain that with the new vessel
authorized last year and now under
construction the next dreadnoughts of
the American sea service will out
class in fighting abilities anything now
atioat In the navies of the world.
Cannot Be Postponed.
Matters of greater seeming impor-
lance in legislation than the naval in
crease are being showed ahead into
the future because then the Democ-
recy will have control of the two
houses Of congress and also of the ad.
ministration. Then, they know, they
can pass such legislation as they wish
almost unimpeded. The battleship
building matter, however, Of necessity
comes up for action at every session,
for it Is an integral part of an appro-
priation bill and as such it must be
passed upon with the rest of the ap-
preparations If the government is to
have money to pay it's expenses.
1t Is a sort Of a relief to have a mat
ter Of large importance under debate
in committee rooms or on the floor,
which has in 1t little of the rancor of
partisanship. Factionalism enters in
to the navy matter, but each opposing
faction is made up of conservative and
progressive Democrats and regular
and insurgent Republicans. Those
who are bitterest among them on most
occasions get together in comradeship
in the ship matter, each side under it's
own flag.
The navy draws it's friends and it's
foes not only from all parties, but
from all sections. No Mason and Dix
on linerand no Mississippi river divide
the fields of the opponents and propo-
nents of greater navy. Men who
agree on nothing else agree on bat
tleships, and men who disagree on
nothing else disagree the instant that
the building of dreadnought is men,
toned.
Want at Least One a Year.
On an average two battleships ev-
cry three years are put into the out
of-date class. This means that with
one new battleship year the strength
of the navy is increased slowly, but
it marks progress and that is what
the sailors are after. One ship every
two years would send the navy back,
and this country would soon drop be-
low France if such ia building program
we're to be adopted Most of the Dem
ocrats seem to be willing that the
navy should be kept at least at its
present strength, while there are
enough of them willing to grant
yearly increase to keep the navy NOV
ing forward. and to accept the aid OF
the Republicans who happen to be
of the same mind.
The dreadnought ordered last year
will he in the service in time to take
part In the naval demonstration IN
force at the time Of the opening OF
the Panama canal. It Is barely pos
sible that the dreadnought which prob
ably is to be authorized this year can
1oin it's sister ship at that time, and
If such shall prove to be fact the
United States will be represented at
the Panama canal celebration by Two
vessels which perhaps no navy of the
world can equal