Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1915-12-22
TRepublican A. ?. Leased wire1


WASHINGTON, Dec. i 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
Board headed by Admiral Dewey.
The annual report of the board,
made public tonight, Giscloses that
This naval policy was formulated by
| the body in July last in answer to
the following proposition propouudel
by Secretary Daniels when the admin
istration reached its decision to enter
upon a campaign Of national prepar-
edness:
What the navy must be in the fu-
ture in order to stand upon an equal
ity with the most efficient and most
practically serviceable."
The boards conclusion follow:
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 q rate Of development 10y
year as may be permitted by the
! facilities of the country, but the limit
above defined should be attained not
later than 1925"
At the same time the board pre-
scented a building program for 1917
in compliance with the secretary S
request for "a program formulated in
the most definite terms, planned for
( n consistent and progressive develop
ment 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 program
for the navy that will continue over
a period of five years with an ex-
penditure Of about 500. 000.0 900 each
year for five years on new conSruc-
ton only The administration plan
for the construction Of sixteen ships
within five years is founded on the
boards answer.
At the same time the board again
developed its idea Of the place the
American navy should hold i'm the
world in the following language:
The General Board believes that
the course Of the present war in Eur
ope affords convincing reasons for
modifying the opinion which it has
expressed for the past II 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 es-
sentiaI to the defense Of a country
situated as is the United States Dor
dering upon two great oceans. 4
navy strong enough only to defend
our coast from actual invasion viii
not suffice. Defense from invasion is
not the only function Of the navy. It
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 defeat the
hostile fleet or any of its detachmentS
at a distance from our coast suffi-
GENTLY great to prevent interruption
If our normal course of national life.
The current war has shown that a
navy of the size recommended by
this board in previous years can no
longer he considered as adequate TO
the defensive needs Of the United
States. our present navy is not suf-
ficiert to give due weight to the di-
plomatic remonstrances Of the United
States in peace nor to enforce it's pol
icies in war
The report lays stress upon the
boards proposal that seven of the
sixteen new ship. four superdread-
naughts and three battle cruisers be
authorized in 1916. Secretary Daniels
has recommended to congress however
! that only two dreadnaughts and two
/ battle cruisers he authorized at this
time. Under the boards plan, the
/ total expenditure for the five years
/ including $7.O0O,OOO for the aviation
service and $11.OoO.O0O for reserve am
munition and material would be $499,-
! S76 900 the last appropriations for
which would be made in 1922: the
| secretary's recommendations call fol
a total expenditure of $500, 4S2,2 the
last appropriations shown being fol
1921 and increases being made over
the boards estimates for submarines
and reserve ammunition The board
program contemplates the building
Of thirteen fleet auXiliaries while the
secretary recommends only six.
The board highly commends tht
proposal to establish a continuing
building policy for the navy. saying
it will stabalize the warship building
industry in the country and tend t.
reduce contract prices for new ships.
The board reviews the course Of the
European war so far as it involved
naval actions. to reach this conclu-
sion: