El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-12-22
NAVY MUST BE
EQUAL TO ANY
Present Navy Inadequate
for Defensive Needs, Says
General Naval Board.

Washington. D c.. Dec. 22='The
navy of the United States should ulti-
mately be equal TO the most powerful
maintained by any other nation of the
world in the opinion of the general
board. whose annual report signed by
admiral George Dewey. was made pub
lie today.
This declaration was made by the
general board in response to a request
by secretary Daniels for an opinion
as to what the navy must be in the
future in order to stand upon an equal
uy with the most efficient and
most practically serviceabIe.' The
general board moreover, declares
that the United States should be the
peer of any naval power within ten
years by such a rate Of development
year by year as may be permitted by
the facilities of the country, but the
limit should be attained not later than
1925"
BattIeship Best Reliance.
The general board expresses renewed
faith in the battleship as against the
submarine for the first line of defence.
The battleship is still the principal
reliance of navies, as it has been in the
past" says the report, which points
I out that spectacular attacks by sub
marines have been given undue i'm
in Europe.
las in the case Of submarines" the
report continues, so in the case of
battle cruisers, the particular course
prevalent exaggerated idea of their
Importance"
The general board therefore in its
recommendations TO secretary Daniels
for continuous building program
covering the next five years advocates
the construction Of ten dreadnaughts
and six battle cruisers Mr. Daniels
recent recommendations to Congress
embrace the same number of dread
naughts. battle cruisers. scouts and de-
{ stroyers as the boards report
The general board. however, recon-
mends that work be commenced i'm
mediately upon the construction OF
four battleships and three battle
cruisers. On account of cramped con-
ditiOns in shipyards throughout the
country, secretary Daniels decided that
the first years program should include
only two batleships and two cruisers
Action TO be taken on the ten year pro-
gram has yet TO be determined.
Lessons of the War.
The general board believes that the
course of the present war IN Europe
affords convincing reasons for mOdi-
| tying the opinion which IT has eN-
/ pressed for the past eleven years as 10
] the proper size Of the navy 4 navy
in firm control OF the seas from the
outbreak Of war is the prime essential
, to the defence Of a country situated as
is the United States, bordering upon
I two great oceans, a navy strong enough
only TO defend our coasts from actual
I invasion will not suffice Defence
I from invasion is not the only function
: of the navy. 1t must protect our sea
] borne commerce and drive that Of the
Z enemy from the sea The best-Way to
accomplish all Of these objects is to
/ find and defeat the hostile fleet OF any
| Of its detachmeuts at a distance from
| our coast sufficiently great TO prevent
interruption Of our normal course OF
national life
The current war has shown that q
I navy of the size recommended by this
4 board in previous years can no longer
I be considered as adequate TO the de-
/ fensiTe needs of the United states our
I present navy is not sufficient to give
/ due weight TO the diplomatic remon-
| strances Of the United States in peace
/ nor 10 enforce its policies in war.
| Pointing out that except Tor the loss
| of ships aggregating 65O,Qte tonnage,
/ under all flags, during the first eight
I months of the war the commerce OF
| the Allies was uninterrupted by SUD
marine attacks. the report declares;
| Submarines Oyerestimated.
The deeds of the submarines have
| been so spectacular that in default or
! engagements between the main fleets.
undue weight has been attached TO
I them"
| Discussing the need of high speed
vessels. the general boards report has
| this to say concerning battle cruisers:
The battle cruiser, chiefly meant TO
| secure information, neT ertheless has a
| somewhat different role from that OF
the scout In addition to high speed
and endurance the battle cruiser has
[ high offensive powers, 50 that If neces-
/ sary she may fight for information and
: break through a hostile screen