Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-29
KNIGHT IS FOR STRONGEST
FORCE AFLOAT FOR j. S.
New construction Should BE Linz
tied Only by Country's Eacil-
tiles to Build.
srECTEE OF DOUBLE ASSAULT
Believes There Is Danger of Combi-
nation of Foreign Powers Against
This Country. and Says There Is
Nced To-day of Adequate Fleet.


construction for The nav should be
united this year only by the country's
facilitate to build Rear Admiral Austin
NJ Knight. president of the Navy War
college. told TIL" House Naval Commit
t'c today. If an adequate feet is TO
oc made ready by 1875. he dccIo,cd. an
immediate inquiry should be mtdo TO
determine the extent OF these facilities
ana 10 plan for even greater bu lding
programs each year until the ,'nited
states has the strongest force afioat
III is a big problem. of course" said
ADMIRAL knight. but we have . coun-
try TO defend"
Only the limits OF constructions IA
Critics. tho admiral explained had
caused the general board TO fix 1926 AS
the date tho American fleet should equal
any in the world.
IF We could get it, would say we
need IT now, TO .dav, Tomorrow"
ON reaching it's decision, the admiral
SAID, the board had before il a spcctcr
OF double assault against ii. which
members Of Tn" Atlantic and Pacific
ficctS would have to meet at the same
time. He said the proposal would meet
any such proposition. that IL did not
include England. and he thought il un-
ilkeiy that a combination against the
United states including that country
ever would be formed. Asked il he had
any reason to believe there was dan
ger OF another combination the All
mral said, Yes. but he was not press
cd to amplify his statement
WOULD NOT CAUSE OTHER
NATIONS TO INCREASE
Representative Butler asked whether
the sudden entrance OF the United
states into the race for naval suprem-
acy would not cause other nations to
T. n CT 1,nf
thought not, for several years at least,
or until the American fleet began to
approach the British. for instance in
size.
Asked By Representative Kelly what
the present fleet could do in case OF an
attack. Admiral Knight said:
IF we were attacked by the English
fleet. | think the navy ought to Shut
itself up in some harbor. but against
any other navy we ought to 90 out
and do the best we can"
He was not without hopes, he said,
that victory might land with the small
er. force.
1t was suggested that war with Eng
| land was extremely unlikely. Admira
knight said this was open TO question,
although tn: general boards MANS
had not contemplated any possible
enemy com bination including England
The strange diplomatic developments
OF the present war he thought. made
almost anything possible. and added:
Certain features which We have
heretofore regarded as features OF safe
ty. have now become points Of dam
ger, i am not so sure we Will never
have Il war with England
POINTS TO VITAL NEEDS
OF NAVY At PRESENT
ADMIRAL knight said the battle cruis-
crs and scouting craft We're the things
needed vitality to make the present
fleet OF Dreadnoughts effective. The
facilities of the country should be
strained Immediately, he said to pro-
vide At least six battle cruisers and
eight scouts. Nine battle cruisers
would be better, he thought, but with
six and $1,000 additional men. the navy
would he in efficient shape within two
or three years, within the limits Of its
numbers. The world produced. lie add
cd, no better ships. officers or men than
those in the American fleet. lie said
Secretary Daniels had done much for
the War College. more than any of his
predecessors, and that the institution
was being brought to n high state of
usefulness. not in preparing war plans.
but in training the men who did pre-
pare the plans, and those who eXcr-
cised high commands.
AS part OF the 1917 program the
admiral urged that Culebra Island, off
the eastern end of Porto Rico, and the
farthcSt outpost on the road from f.u-
rope to the Caribbean. should be made
an impregnablc fortress, where the feet
might he based. Guam. in the Pacific,
The thought. should be simila rly
equipped and each base should have
huge floating dry dock.
Admiral Knight disagreed with the
suggestion that the coasts of the United
States could be rendered secure from
attack by establishing Il chain Of sub
marines along the shores.
NO submarine defense of our coasts"
he said. would prevent Il powerful
and determined enemy from pushing
home his attack
do you see any reason Represen,
ltrtive Butler demanded "whv we should