The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-30
WOULD BUILD 8 Big
WARSHIPS THIS YEAR
L. d. Roosevelt Tells House
Committee It Would Have
"Moral Effect"
REFUTES DANIELS'S PLAN

WASHINGTON, March 2s.--For ire
moral effect II will have on the country
and tho International relations Of the
United States Franklin II. Roosevelt.
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy. recom-
mcnded to the House Naval Affairs Com.
mittee to-day the laying down OF eight
capital ships AS a building programme
for the present year. Mr.. Roosevelt
agreed with the committee that the
building programme Ms proposed by the
| administration will be Insufficient TO put
the United States In second place among
naval Powers. the policy which has
hitherto prevailed.
THE five year programme" he said.
would enable US TO catch up with Ger
many to somc extent. but would not got
us quite even. II would put us ahead OF
France. with which we are neck and
neck for third place"
Mr.. Roosevelt also referred 10 reports
that Japan has a secret building pro-
eramme, and said that according to pres
ent strength. 30 far as known. the United
States would be OH a par with the Orien-
tai Power II obliged TO meet the Japan.
ese navy In its own waters.
In actual strength. he said. the naval
power OF this country az compared with
that VI Japan Is about three to two. bat
that one-third Of this strength would he
lost II either nation were to fight in the
/! waters Of the other.
MIR. Roosevelt held put little hope 70
paciiist Members OF the committee that
the European war would 10 exhaust
combatsnts that the United States would
have little difficulty In maintaining sec
ond place.
Suppose II r. a draw he said. 1.-The
countries will be weakened financially
and In men. hut they will have in their
possession strong military establish
ments."
In his recommendations Mr.. Rooss.
welt practically adopts tho report OF the
general board Of the navy. which was
cut down by order OF Secretary Daniela
Tho latter will appear before the COM
mittee Tomorrow TO give the reasons
for this policy.
Mr.. Roosevelt, did not express an
opinion as TO what proportion OF the
eight ships he proposes should be battle
cruisers or dr~eadnoughts. but, admitting
that the war had shown the necessity
for vessels OF the former type hs pinned
his faith 10 the drcadnousht as the chief
element OF naval power.
With d~rcadnouphts. he said. England
had won the greatest victory OF the war
without firing a ehot. and that with
enough drcadnouehts the United States
| could likewise WIN 'bloodlcss victories
lie described the United States as
| being richer and weaker than ever be-
fore. II war should come. he believes.
"A nation with u fleet more powerful
would destroy the American fleet. take
tho Panama Cana and outlying pos
sessions and bottle NJ the country, lay
ing II open TO invasion.
European atior will not abandon
tho policy Of srming after the war. Mr..
Roosevelt predicted In reply 10 a ques-
| ton by Representative 1lenslcy OF Mis-
souri,. ono OF the little navy members Of
the committee.
"If a victory for either side results"
he said. "it will have enormous re-
suits. There IL n possibility that
we might he mixed IN With tho victo-
rious side II there should he one. To-
day We are rich but weak. Wa have
potential resources. but nothing to with.
stand All immediate shock"