Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-09
By ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY

that the people feel nsnctvey but know how to meet
The people inland rarely battleship
have opportunity for gaining knowledge of the navy.
They believe in adequate navy but not sufficiently
informed urge their representatives its upbuding The
result has been that the growth of the navy has been haphazard
mas been eversh pushed times when there imminent
national danger and allowed go almost by the board when
there seemed the unframed observer occasion for
The General carefully studied CONNER
ca aspirations and strength of the with
mercial rivalry likely to bring us in contact.
1t studied the well established national policies like the
Monroe Doctrine and the restriction of Oriental immigration
1t looked into possible complications defending the Panama
Canal and maintaining its neutrality.
thoroughly policies could not
be sustained without adequate navy that
such navy surrender the place should Justly
among the nations of the world
The General Board also studied policies
strong nations famiarzed degree prepared
gained the facts of their probable strength date twenty
years ahead found that of these had outlined
for themselves definite programs that lead given
strength given time the United States expects
occupy position of influence beside those nations time
it must adopt that will give comparable feet
the future date.
So three years after its organization the General Board
1908 ready with its recommendations of building pro-
gram to last through the years
and effective fleet in the year 1920
visibility of substituting this continuing consistent building pro-
for the haphaard methods of annual appropriations
Since 1903 the General Board has each year given
advice with relation to building policy It's recommendations
have each year been unanimously the experts
who have made the board The public has usually
quaned with the number ships that the
asked for but the for those requests have
dust in the archives of the Navy Department public
understood the patriotic that lie back the
mendatons This year Secretary Navy has transmit
ted the advice the Congress
and il has been made public.
The General Board is that public should
become familiar with building policy proposes
INSTRUCT ITS REPRESENTATIVES TO PROVIDE AN AIDE
QUATE FLEET IF IT DOES NOT, THE RESPONSIBILITY
WILL THEN REST WITH THE PEOPLE AND NOT THE
NAVAL EXPERTS
And what does this building program provide?
In the first place suggested that the nation adopt
definite cumulative building program 1t shown that if
provision made for baehps year with third ship
the third year the result 1920 would be 4S capital
ships. The auxiliary ships to maintain webaanced navy
should Of course be provided with each increase capital ships
This would appear be ORGANIZATIONS building pro-
gram The General Board later many
four battesps year The impression abroad
General Board stood for program ships
This The Board recommended this number
Of ships for year because the ships provided previous
years had been possibility reaching goal of
As ships in 1920 depended providing the greater
the time asked
not generally realized that the United States is amen
taby behind its construction of batteshps navy
has already been placed position of nferioy during
past two yea-2.
The General Board realizes that its policy of 48
ships in 1920 will not be realized 1t believes that building
program that viii that result the earliest possible
should, however be definitely adopted
And when the creation Of this logical webalanced navy
brought this Government will by means the best
feet among the nations but will then only then an
adequate navy"
That feet will consist of a capital ship the
Union For each batleshp there desoyers
and submarines those invisible protectors home ports
This comprehensive program would be harmony the
requirements Of the Constitution and would provide
tain adequate and well proportional navy defend
American policies protect citizens and uphold the honor and
dignity OF the nation.
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