Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-05
Position Not Likely to Be Bet
tered Except by European
War, Experts Say.
POLICY FOR THE FUTURE
IN HANDS OF CONGRESS
Speculation Regarding the Next APP
preparation Bill-Fleets Of
the World Compared.

man the fleet which flies the Stars and
stripes is supposedly the equal of any
navy afoat. experts give the United
States the third position in sea
strength; and this position will not be
bettered in the next half dozen years
unless the European war greatly re-
duces the German or English nav1es.
Ut is reasonable to believe the forth
coming naval appropriation bill will
continue the building policy of the last
bill, namely, two new battleships. six
torpedo destroyers and eight subma-
rines; and 1t is on this very point that
the claim of weakness will be made by
The men who declare that four battle
ships a year should be authorized.
n the congressional inquiry into the
strength or weakness of the countrys
naval and military forces should be
held. the critics of the present policy
will declare that Congress should have
started r-battleship-a-year pro-
gram eleven years ago, with
corolIary program of an increased num-
her of cruisers. scouts. etc, and that
the general naval board policy of
'forty-eight battleshipS by 1920 Is the
only safe plan to follow.
Naval policy is determined by Con-
EresS, i'll actual practice. The general
naval board, headed by Admiral Dewey,
of the country as seen through naval
eyes. The board reports and recon-
mends to the Secretary of the Navy,
and the Secretary of the Navy has
genei-ny cut in two the naval boards
estimates and recommendations for
new ships and sent them along to Con-
gress, where they are always likely to
receive further trimming.
The general board annually explains
that a fleet is to be measured by Its
heaviest units. and that nothing has
Yet occurred by which naval men have
ceased to regard the powerful battle
ship as the backbone of the fleet; that,
the members of the board believe the
United States of America should have
forty-eight capital ships of heaviest
offensive and defensive strength, in
order properly to safeguard its honor,
its commerce and its policies. Com
bined with the coast Notifications prof.
ect and the projected and entirely
feasible and possible mining of har-
DO and channels. the best naval
strategists in America say that forty
eight great battleships with the proper
number of scouts. torpedo boats, de-
stroyerS, aeroplanes, etc. Will be Suff1-
cient to do its maximum share in
whipping the aggressor's fleet
Now the actual condition of the
American fleet measured by battleship
units is:
80 battleships ready for service. less
than 20 years old.
battleships under construction.
DdttltSHlpS dutHoil1cu. Hot SCt
building.
battleship to replace Idaho and
Mississippi. sold to Greece
Because some of the present ships
viii be on the down grade in effec-
tjveness by 1920 the naval board fig
ures the navy is deficient by ten bat
tleships in those built, building and
authorized.
Navies of the World.
table presented to the House naval
affairs committee during the previous
session. compiled by the Navy Depart
ment, gives the numerical status of the
big navies of the world, in the ships
which will count in actual engagement
For vessels built. al the ,iIne the tlpIe
was prepared, the sable showed the ma
tions in this order:
England
IS battleships, dreadnaught type:
40 battleships,
battle cruisers.
"a armored cruisers.
:: cruisers, including unarmored
craft,
1i3 deStroyers.
40 torpedo boats.
- submarines.
Germany
13 battleships. dreadnaught type:
20 battleships,
battle cruisers,
IL armored cruisers,
Il cruisers.
13O deStrOyerS,
- submarines
United States
battleships. dreadnaught type.
"a battleships,
IL armored cruisers,
"a cruisers.
10 destroyers,
is torpedo boats.
% submarines.
France
battleshps, dreadn2 II. pc;
Is battleships.
- armored cruisers.
10 cruisers.
NJ destroyers.
- torpedo boats.
% submarines.
Japan
battleships. dreadna dsht t:pe:
&c battleships.
battle cruiser,
10 arnored cruisers,
IA cruisers.
"a destroyers,
IS torpedo boats,
13 submarines.
Under Construction.
At the time the table was prepared