New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-26

In view Of the manifest desire OF
the administration to meet the nation
wide demand for effective preparedness
against war, adverse criticism Of the
measures proposed by the President in
his message to Congress is an un-
grateful task
But neither the eloquent and patri-
otto words in which this message IS
couched, nor the seemingly imposing
list of proposed ships which it gives,
can cover the fact that the programme
is largely but promise, 1.-THE substance
of things hoped for" Even if by
the assent Of succeeding Congresses
the Presidents proposal should reach
fulfilment, eight years from now, IN
1928, our navy would still be made
quate for the vast possessions, near
and far, which it must guard, and for
the worldwide policies whose peaceful
enforcement depends upon the latent
power of its guns.
For reasons given later. the real
fighting value Of any modern navy can
be measured only by its strength IN
dreadaoughts. No foreign power will
venture to attack US with any but
dreadnought fleet. Disregarding, then,
the minor vessels proposed, as of rela-
lively quick construction. let US con-
slider the first line ships only.
The Presidents programme contem-
plates the construction within five
years Of ten bsttieships and six bat
tie cruisers total Of sixteen dread
noughts. Now, the shortest time IN
which the United States mas built
battleship is thirty-two months. The
dreadnought Pennsylvania, which was
authorized by the act Of August %,
1912, is now nearing completion, three
years and four months later.
Still Lag in Dreadnought Strength.
We have now eight dreadnoughts in
commission. three others are about fin
ished. four more authorized in 1924
are in the preliminary stages OF con-
struction. and two authorized this year
the Secretary has just ordered TO be
built IN the New York and Mare Island
navy yards.
So, in 1916. We shall have eleven
dreadnoughts; late in 1917. fifteen;
and in 1918. seventeen. Adding the
proposed ships to this, we should have
thirty-three in 1923.
The distant totals seem feeble in
deed when we consider other great
powers. Before the war Great Britain
had, built and building, forty-six
dreadnought battleships and battle
cruisers. That all of these ships are
now in service is wholly probable. The
London DAILY Express" recently esti-
mated that fourteen superdreadnought
had been added to the British navy
since the outbreak Of war.
Germany presents similar but not
so disproportionate comparison. In
1914 her dreadnoughts, built and build
ing, numbered twcnty-eight. Exclud-
ing the two "sold" to Turkey and one
possibly torpedoed, she probably has
twenty-five ready for service now, as
against our modest and pacific total Of
eleven. Her construction, before the
war began, would give her forty-one
battleships in 1920. or siXty-one capital
ships in all The former figure exceeds
our proposed strength by eight ships,
and it is probable that the German
building programme has been extended
considerably.
As TO Japan, last year she had ten
drcaGuouZhts. butt ard building, the
latest Of which was authorized in
1912. At least seven Of them should
be in commission now, with the rest
RAPIDLY nearing completion. Press re-
ports state that on December Z the
Premier, Count Okuma, addressed the
Diet. urging that mot . day can
be lost" in carrying out the plans for
naval expansion ratified by the Council
Of Defence. Thus. even Japan with an
effective dreGdnought strength now
about equal to our own, feels lnpre-
pared.
How Building Could be Expedited.
Assistant Secretary Franklin D.
Roosevelt IS quoted as saying: :" wish
the programme could be made larger,
but there are practical questions as to
the capacity Of the plants. labor, and
other lhilgs which make it question
able as to whether We could lay down
more ships
Mr. Roosevelt does not give what is
Il s..r l14 inc