Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-11
U. S. Should Build Ships.

he said
u. S. Should Build Ships.
Secretary Daniels declared too many
ships were being built by contract and
too few by the navy yards He said
he would use the smaller yards to
build submarines and reiterated his
view that the government ought to
build submarines.
What country have You in mind
that we would likely have war with"
asked Representative Henley of Mis-
souri,.
"Dahomey," replied Mr. Daniels, amid
laughter.
we should not consider war wit h
any country or build against any coun-
try" continued the Secretary I'VE
should prepare for our defense from
whatever quarter an attack may come;
a defense against any enemy. We must
prepare to defend ourselves in the very
best way we can. Many people believe
that our navy ought to be greater than
that of any or all of the other nations. If
any country comes and attacks we must
make the greatest defense we can. If
you go into war you go in to VIM
Lauds Admiral Dewey.
For instance" he said, 1.-The United
States had no idea of taking Manila
when the war with Spain broke out.
Nobody supposed we would have any
thing to do with Manila. l am sorry
we ever took the Philippines, but
want to say that Admiral Dewey acted
in the most wise and statesmanlike
way There is not a single act that he
ever committed in the Philippines that
committed this country to any policy.
His self-repression and wisdom left
everything as to policy to a civil gov
eminent
battleships. he revealed his view of a
battle between the navies of Germany
and the allies.
Suppose" he said, that England
had no dreadnaughts. The German fleet
would come out and control the seas
Any day that you pick up the papers
you may see a report of battle royal
between all these battleships, compared
to which these others are mere Skin
misheS."
Tribute to Admiral Fletcher.
The Secretary said that if any nation
attacked the United States the de-
partment would depend on the battle
ships first and then the submarines
and mines. He was asked about a
statement of Admiral Fletcher that the
reason why the British and French
fleets, two and half times as numer-
Gus as the German fleet, did not go
into the Baltic and destroy the Ger
man fleet, was that it was not worth
the risk sf the German Qualifications
mines and Subma rineS. Secretary DAN
iels replied that "as a matter of naval
tactics, / should regard Admiral Fletch-
er as entitled to much more weight
than any other opinion in America
Secretary Daniels said the shores of
q
extensive that the same principle of
use of submarines and mines would
not apply here as in Europe. although
of course the more submarines and
depend the submarines and the
mines" he said. and he added that
what has happened in the European
war has justified the Navy Depart
uation of lines already carried out
plus an increase of submarines"
Ultimate universal disarmament again
was brought up. Unless the foreign
construction, said the Secretary. Il
would not have the assurance that we
would be safe in stopping our program.
We are building navy to defend our
selves from any necessity and long
as there is no agreement we must con-
tinue to have powerful navy.
No Request for Conference.
He added that no request for AN in
ternational conference to consider dis
armament had been made by the adj
miniStra ton.
He was asked to furnish a list of
names of all warships that Germany
has lost in this war.
Il suggest he replied. that you
should ask for all nations engaged IN
the war | think it would be a little
unneutral and embarrassing
eff this European war continues as II
has in the past, without the hrst-class
battleships taking part, do you tnink
it necessary to continue building pat
tleships?" he was asked
Certainly it is necessary, replied
the Secretary The Germans always
have their ships ready to go out. The
English are now using their ships to
control commerce on the sea, but they
are always, potentially. in readiness
for action.
That no request has been made by
the administration for an international
conference on disarmament; that he
would favor "a naval holiday" but
only by international agreement; that
there. is no desire to acquire foot of
territory outside of this country and
that defense is on general lines and
not in contemplation of any particular
country, were points of Secretary
Daniels further testimony.