The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-11-11
REHA6IllTATINo THE UNITED
STATES NAVY.

Twelve months ago. the attitude OF |
the present administration ON the aues-
ton OF increasing our naval and mill |
itary defenses was one Of uncompromis- |
ing opposition. Specific orders were |
given, sealing the lips OF our naval and |
military men and strictly prohibiting |
them from giving any information or
making any statement whatsoever upon |
the subject Of military preparedness |
Moreover, the growing concern of the |
nation regarding our state of unprepar- |
edness, as expressed in the activities
of the Navy league. the National Sc
curity league. the American league and
other patriotic associations, was de-
nounced In semi official utterances as
being an attempt to provoke ''militar
istic" spirit which was inconsistent with
the traditions and present policy of the
United States.
Today, we witness one of the most
extraordinary changes of front that have
occurred in the history of official Wash
ington; for the daily press Is being fill
ed with evidently inspired articles. sent
out broadcast from the war and navy
departments, in which 1t Is announced
that the forthcoming congress is to be
asked to make considerable additions to
our naval and military forces.
This change of attitude on the part
OF the administration we sincerely well
come and we believe the government
has modified its policy because Of the
conviction that circumstances demand
it. We are satisfied that 1t is deter
mined to push the proposed measures
through congress with all the pressure
| that 1t can bring to bear
So far as the plans which have been
given such lavish publicity are concern
ed. we are thoroughly In accord with
the proposal to lay down a continuing
program of construction extending over
the next six years. This is the princi-
pie upon which the German navy has
been built up; II Is In keeping with
the plan outlined many years ago by
the general board of the navy; and the
| institution of such a program cannot
| fail to have a stimulating effect upon
successive congresses when the question
of naval increase comes up. 1t should
be remembered, however, that imposing
as are the totals representing the whole
six years program, 1t is with the APP
preparation for the present year, and
that alone, that the nation is Immediately
concerned Future congresses win be in
no wise obligated to follow the yearly
program, as thus laid down, and there
fore 1t would be well for the nation to
keep its eyes fixed upon the appropri-
atoms which are asked for the present
year. With regard to these, we feel
1t our duty to state that they are in
sufficient No only so, but the whole
program both for the current year, and
for the five following years. fails to
meet the exigencies of the situation.
as recognized and provided for by the
continuing program advocated several
years ago by the naval board.
The plans of the board were drawn
with a strict regard to the continuing
program of a certain European power.
whose international policies seemed mos
likely TO bring it into conflict with he
United States. The naval board pro-
gram called for such yearly addition tc
our strength as would give us by the
year 1920 a total of forty eight battle
ships or one for every state in the un-
ion.
Unfortunately congress for the pas
decade has seen fit to cut down the
, recommendations of its naval experts
: to such an extent that today we are fad
below the standard OF strength neces
, sary for our protection. If the presen'
administration is sincerely DESTROYS o
executing the freely expressed will o
the country, 1t should lay out a rpro
gram of construction, which shall no
merely make such yearly additions t
our navy as are contained in the orig
inal program of the navnas~board, blu
4 it should increase them by an amour
, equal to the omissions Of the past tel
years. In other words, the new pro
D gram should be so ordered that by tn
. year 1920 we shall possess a total o
: forty eight battleshipa
: AS matters stand today, we have sew
4 enteen dreadnoughts built building ans
4 authorized. The program of the pres
= ent administration calls for the construc
Q ton of sixteen dreadnoughts within tn
i next six years, which would give u
!. thirty-three by 1920. AS regards pre-
dreadn onghts, If we strictly apply tn
rule that such ships are obsolete afte
twenty years of service, we find tina
by 1920 we shall have only eight suel
ships available, namely, the vessels o
the Michigan" New Hampshire an
Connecticut classes. Adding thes
eight to the Thirty three dreadnoughts
we get a total of forty-one battfeship
by 1920.
Now for reasons stated above, the I'm
mediate concern OF the country Is VIII
the program for the present year; fc
fl would be perilous to allow tn
summed-up totals of proposed futui
construction (ships which may never I
built) to divert our attention from II
urgent needs OF the hour. The additic
to our first fighting line for the PREF