Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-10
UNCLE SAM BEHIND
THE TIMES IN AIR
CRAFT AN D MINES
CONTINUED from page one.)

against us, | should say yes
YES" interjected Mr. Witherspoon
but didn't ask you to consider all those
things"
I'm my answer concerning the compare
five mower of the navies" Admiral Flet-
cher resumed. II considered all those
things necessary to be considered, the
number of ships number of guns, armor'
Workmanship and everything practical
20 consider
Then I understand from your state
ment," said Mr.. Witherspoon, that you
want us to understand that England Is
the only nation on earth that has a navy
chat wc could not successfully resist"
ri think that is a fair conclusion" spid
the admiral
FLEET CAN'T HOLD PHILIPPINES.
Representative Williams of Illinois asked
the admiral II he thought the United
States could successfully resist Japan if
the feet had to defend Hawaii and the
Philippines in their waters.
That is e question, of course, tha: is
exceedingly difficult to answer" replied
the admiral. II think our more powerful
fleet could keep control of the seas az
against japan. Blu. as to the ability of
the fleet alone 10 defend the Philippines
would depend a great deal on conditions
l would not sey that :he fleet alone could
do It,"
Wei. 4 our 40 eattleships can. defend
the Philippines" Representative Wither-
spoon interrupted. don't you think 1t
would be good thing For us TO get rid of
tho Philippines?
That is a question 81 policy when
cannot answer" replied the admiral
defend the Monroe 6octrine?' suggest
ed Chairman Hadgett.
we would ho operating under en-
tirely different conditions" said the
admiral conditions would be more
difficult because Of operations far dis
tant In the seas"
do you believe" asked Representa-
tive Gray, that We at the present
time should increase our navy so that
We could control the seas?'
Il see no necessity for adopting that
policy at the present time"
why then is it necessary for us to
have a navy to control the seas as
against Germany or France"
That is a very different and hypo-
thetical question that is not within my
province as military man to answer"
Admiral Fletcher replied.
IF we had conflict with any nation
would naturally provide against
conditions which had to be met. You
make provision for defense proportonate
to the probability of future conditions.
Otherwise the only solution is that we
must make n navy to whip the world
Provisions for defense must be tempered
a1th some policy of judgment. I do not
IA ~
conflicting interests between England ant
the United States have been at all ser
ious or that there is any probabilt,
that they will Our interests are to,
much in common
Then we don't have to build agains
England, in your opinion" suggested Mr.
Gray.
That is right" was the admiral
answer
What nations then. do you think W.
DO have to build against and --'
The question was unfinished Chairman
Padgett and several other members OBJ
jected The chairman said he thought tn
question improper.
II must be excused from answerinl
that question and would Ike to have
stricken out" said the admiral.
Mr.. Gray withdrew It.
GERNIANY AHEAD IN 1919
Answering further questions, Admira
Fletcher said that if the German resula
building program were carried out an
the United States continued to build onl
two battleships a year, Germany woul
have more modern battleships than tn
United States In 1919.
1T would be difficult for us to have
building program that would warrant u
10 hope to catch up with Germany" h
added.
Admiral Fletcher said the tendenc
among the world powers was to eliminat
ail predreadnoughts as fast as possib!
from the real lists o. fighting ships G
the naviss The American predread
noughts." he asserted ARE superior t
she German predreadnoughts."
Replying to a question OF Nj. Robert!
Admiral Fletcher declared THAT even
q foreign nation should have a gun wit
range one and one-ha,f niles create
than that Of any American gums NcN
York city would be protected from BON
bardment by tho forts outside Of Sand
Hook.
Modern wars" the admiral continued
come on very suddenly and there Is littl
Wine lot preparedness WneH tHeS pcS'l
After TIE relations between countrie
have become strained you cannot NOV
your forces without the move being ~
yarded as a hostile act, and YOU woul
have to go into action practically JUS:
you stand. You would have to re a
ready"
The admiral said the United States hs
been behind the times In the developmer
Of air craft and submarine mines thong
he would not say that as to submarine
EIe thought 1t would be wise to have
liberal appropriation this year for sui
marine mines, aerial craft and auxtlial
weapons Of that character"
Representative Roberts piled the wi
ness with questions regarding the mobil
walton Of the Atlantic fleet aftor will
ara wal from the Mexican waters. Adm
raj Fletcher said the largest number
battleships In Mexican waters AT al
time was IS, with six or seven cruisers.
What was the military necessity
keeping all those there when the po
vas occupied by the American author
ties and there was no Mexican fleet
asked Mr.. Roberts.
I'D rather not answer that question
replied the admiral.
"You have to-day q effective battl
ships?"
Yes"
III you received orders to prepare