The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-12-24
POWERFUL NAVY
FOR THIS NATION

Washington, Dec, 22.-The
American navy should be equal to
the most powerful maintained by
any other nation of the world" not
later than 1925, in the opinion OF
the Navy General Board, headed by
Admiral Dewey.
The annual report of the board
disclosed that this naval policy was
formulated by the body in July last
in answer to the following PROPOSE
lions propounded by Secretary Dan
iels when the administration reach
ed its decision to enter upon a cam
paign Of national preparedness:
what the navy must be in the
future in order to stand upon an
equality with the most efficient and
most practically serviceable."
The boards conclusion follows:
1.-THE navy of the United States
should ultimately be equal to the
most powerful maintained by any
other nation of the world. 1t should
be gradually increased to this point
by such a rate of development year
above defined should be attained not
facilities of the country, but the limit
by year as may be permitted by the
later than 1926"
Building Program.
At the same time the board pre-
sented a building program for 1917
in compliance with the Secretary
request for "a program formulated
in the most definite terms, planned
for a consistent and progressive de-
velopement of this great defensive
arm of the nation"
Details of the boards reply are not
revealed, as subsequently in October
of this year, the Secretary asked the
board to prepare "a building prog
ram for the navy that will continue
over a period of five years with an
expenditure of about $100,0O0,000
each year for five years on new con-
struction only" The administration
plan for the construction of sixteen
capital ships within five years is
founded on the boards answer
At the same time the board again
developed it's idea of the place the
American navy should hold in the
world in the following language:
Control of the Sea.
1.-THE General Board believes that
the course of the present war in
Europe affords convincing reasons
for modifying for the past eleven
years as to the proper size. of the
navy. A navy in firm control of the
seas from the outbreak of war is the
prime essential to the defense of a
country situated as is the United
States bordering upon two great
oceans. A navy strong enough only
to defend our coast from actual in
vasion will not suffice.
Defense from invasion is not the
only function of the navy. 1t must
protect our sea-borne commerce and
drive that of the enemy from the sea.
The best way to accomplish all these
objects is to find and defend the hos
tile fleet or any of its detatchments
at q distance from our coast suffici-
emily great to prevent interruption
of our normal course of national
life. The current war has shown
that navy of the size recommended
by this board in previous years can
no longer be considered as adequate
to the defensive needs of the United
States. Our present navy is not suffi-
cent to give due weight to the dip
lomatic remonstrances of the United
States in peace nor to enforce its po-
licies in war"
The report lays stress upon the
boards proposal that seven of the
sixteen new ships, four superdread-
naughts and rhree battle cruisers, be
authorized in 1916. Secretary Dan
iels has recommended to congress.
however, that only two dreadnaughts
and two battle cruisers be authoriz-
ed at this time.