The Washington times., 1916-05-19
THE HOUSES INADEQUATE
NAVAL BEL

ocCfcthIy VI VIC ikNhNy DohhCio
asked Congress 10 adopt q five-year
naval building program that would,
IL carried through, have approxi-
mated to meeting the needs Of the
country on the water, as those needs
can now be foreseen. For this years
authorization, he demanded two
dreadnaughts, two battle and three
scout cruisers, thirty submarines,
and fifteen destroyers.
The committee reports bill that
gives him no dreadnaughts at all,
but five battle cruisers; twenty sub
marines instead of thirty; ten de-
stroyers instead Of fifteen; four
scout ships instead Of three; hos
pital ship, fuel ship, and an am
munition ship. --...g ....
There are several reasons why
this substituted program is unwise
and unsatisfactory. In the first
place, the vessels that are author
lied do not represent the Judgment
Of naval experts as to immediate
needs. The Republican members Of
the committee voted for the two
dreadnaughts that the department
wanted; and they also voted for six
battle cruisers. They demanded
more than twice as many subnsa-
rines as were finally written into
the bill; and they wanted more de-
stroyers than the department asked,
while the bill gives fewer.
If there is any one institution
under this Government that the peo-
pie firmly believe in, it is the navy.
There are differences Of opinion
about how large an army is needed
i'm peace times; but there is almost
no difference about the navy, as our
real first line Of defense. There ID
a much more intelligent understand
ing now than a few years ago, con-
corning the function Of navy. The
gallant little navy of Japan, sailing
away from the shores Of Nippon un.
der sealed orders, to protect those
shores, taught us a lesson. II is the
same lesson that the British have
stated in their naval axiom that "oui
first line Of defense is off the enemy'i
| ports"
Great Britain's navy has made
4 naval battles pretty nearly obsolete
but how? By dint of being so over.
towering that it hasn't a chance Il
get fight! 1t holds the sea by tn,
mere procedure of lying in its might
in a quiet roadstead off the north Of
Scotland. 1t costs money; yes; but
it saves lives, it keeps British com
merce moving, it is the real insur
ance of the allied cause.
The American people understand
what navy must do. They under
stand that a navy Is of no use a
all unless 1t can command the sea-
against any antagonist II must, face
Germany has now. a far stronge,
navy than this country would hav,
even II the authorizations Of tn,
House bill had all been executed q
this blessed moment. Yet Germany
navy is useless to Germany agains
the superior force Of Britain; pre-
cisely as our navy would be hopeless
against the superior one Of Ger
many.
There can be only one verdict o,
the House bill. It 10 bad business
The country will be able to under
stand the differences between Demo
Gratis and Republicans on this Issue
II will SEQ that the Democrats oc
cupy the position Of "little navy" ad
vocates, while the Republicans stan
! for much more effective and power
. full organization at all points.
, Perhaps the Senate will be abb
to better the conditions. There wi
be inslstent demand that It do 81
Tho country 10 learning that th
Senate is capable of a truly nations
, view; which is very different fror
, the Houses composite Of pitifull
local Views. It is for the Senate I
save thu day,