New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-16
The United States Ought TO Rank
Second, Not Fourth, as
Naval Power.

Aencr5nng 20 the Navy Department own
figures. submitted to the House Naval Affairs
Committee, the United States has now fallen 70
fourth rank among the worlds naval powers
,rhis descent has been due to the failure Of Con-
gress in recent years to adhere TO the raViohai
buildine programme Of the General Board OF the
NAVY. In 1908 we were in second place, next 10
Great Britain. and in view of our great extent
If seacoast and the political obligations which we
have assumed under the Monroe Doctrine that
is our natural place. Great Britain is more oe-
pendent on sea power than we are, ooth lot ue-
fence and for the maintenance OF national IN
terests. But Great Britain excepted, we nave
more legitimate uses for a big navy than any
other nation has, and it should be our policy
never 10 fall lower in the international rating
than next to the top.
In 1908 we were next to Great Britain IN naval
strength. France was third and Germany was
fourth. Germany then began building very rapid
w. and Congress, after year or two, lost interest
in maintaining our status. The first year after
the Democratic party regained control Of the
House Of Representatives Chairman Padgett oil
the Naval Affairs Committee tried to shut down
on the construction Of dreadnoughts. lie re-
ported a naval appropriation bill which carried
no battleship authorization for 1912, and the
House passed it. After a long deadlock WIN
the Senate the House compromised by voting one
ba.tleship. and it voted only more for 1913.
The effects of this neglect were farreachmg'
Germany passed the United States in the rating
in 1910 having passed France in 1909 From
1910 to 1918 we held slight lead over France.
On December l. 1913, our warshp tonnage, ac-
cording to "The Navy Year Book was 92l,S44'
and that of France was S76l55. Now it is ad-
mitted that France has crowded us down into
fourth place.
The navy with us is really first line of de-
fence. That is not the case with Germany or
with 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 fleet is doing
secondary guard and blockade duty in the Medi-
terranean. These two powers have great ma
tional armies, which are their chief military re-
lance We have an army so small that 1t can
only supplement the work Of the navy in de-
Tending our coasts. Our population is more than
double that of France and % per cent greater
than that of Germany The sea frontier which
we have to look after is practically that of the
two western continents, to say nothing OF that
of our distant insular possessions in the Pacific
Moreover, we have the Panama Canal on oul
hands and must protect that great investment OF
frofa o1p
There is every sound reason why our nav!
should be developed consistently and intelligent
". so that it will be second only to Great Brit
aims. Captain Winterhalter, who is Secretary
Daniels's Aid for Material, told the House Nava
Committee that he would like to see the United
States "the first naval power of the world" Tha
is not necessary and is far beyond the contem
plation of the present programme Of the Genera
Board But it is even more inconsistent with tn
present policy of the department, which aim
merely at drifting and would probably not worry
20 long as the navy continued to be operated a
a popular university" if we had before long Il
cede fourth place among the worlds naval pow
ers TO japan.
The General Board has always had the RICH
idea. Our naval status should be definitely fixe'
and upheld. Between the boards plans ant
those Of Mr.. Daniels there is the difference
which separates the seasoned wisdom Of the eX
merit from the lighthearted laundering Of tn
amateur