Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-19
Editorial Comment.
Our Naval Rank.
(New York Tribune.)


According to the Navy Departments
own figures, submitted to the House
Naval Affairs Committee, the United
States has now fallen to fourth rank
among the worlds naval powers. This
descent has been due to the failure of
Congress in recent years to adhere to
the rational building programme of
the General Board of the Navy. In
1908 we were in second place, next to
Great Britain, and in view of. our
great extent of seacoast and the polit-
ical obligations which we have as
sumed under the Monroe Doctrine that
is our natural rs.ce. Great Britain is
more dependent on the sea power than
we are, both for defence and for the
maintenance of national interests. But,
Great Britain excepted, we have more
legitimate uses for big navy than
any other nation has, and it should be
our policy never to fall lower in the
international rating than next to the
top.
In 1908 we were next to Great Brit
ain in naval strength. France was
third and Germany fourth. Germany
then began building very rapidly, and
Congress, after year or two, lost In
terest in maintaining our status. The
first year after the Democratic party
regained control of the House of Rep
resentatives Chairman Padgett of the
Naval Affairs Committee tried to shut
down on the construction of dread
noughts. He reported naval appro-
priation bill which carried no battle
ship authorization for 1912, and the
House passed it. After long dead
lock with the Senate the House COM
promised by voting one hattleship, and
it voted only one more for 1913.
The effects of this neglect were far
reaching. Germany passed the United
States in the rating in 1910. having
passed France in 1909. From 1910 to
1918 we held a slight lead over France.
On Dec. /, 1913, our warship tonnage.
according to THE Navy Year Book,
was 921, S44, and that of France was
$685. Now it is admitted that France
has crowded us down into fourth place.
The navy with US Is really a first
line of defence. That is not the case
with Germany or France. Germany is
conducting a great war with her navy
practically tied up in home ports for
safety. France is defending herself on
land against German invasion. Her
feet is doing secondary guard and
blockade duty in the Mediterranean.
These two Powers have great national
armies, which are their chief military
reliance. We have an army SO small
that it can only supplement the work
of the navy in defending our coasts.
Our population is more than double
that Of France and Is per cent greater
than that of Germany. The sea 'front.'
fer which we have to look after is
practically that of the two Western
continent, to say nothing OF that of
our distant insular possessions in the
Pacific. Moreover, we have the Pan
anna Canal ON our hands and must
protect that great investment on finan-
cial as well as strategic grounds =
There is every sound reason why our
navy should be developed consistently
and intelligently, so that. 1t will be
second only to Great Britain's. Captain
WHITEWATER, who is Secretary Dan
iels' aid for material, told the House
Naval Committee that he would like
to see the United States the first
naval power of the world" That is
not necessary, and is far beyond the
contemplation Of the present pro-
gramme of the General Board. But 1t
is even more inconsistent with the
present policy of the Department,
which aims merely at drifting and
would probably not worry. SO long as
the navy continued to be operated as
a popular university" IL we had be-
fore long to cede fourth place among
the worlds naval Powers to Japan.
The General Board has always had
the right idea. Our naval status
should be definitely fixed and upheld.
Between the boards plans and those
of Mr.. Daniels there is the difference
which separates the seasoned wisdom
of the expert from the light-hearted
laundering Of the amateur.