Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-02-07
AMERICAS navy
in FOURTH PLACE
FORNEARLY YEAR
Gardner Charges That Depart
ment Received Official No.
LITIGATION Last April

/ WASHINGTON, d. C.-Disclosurt
/ that the American navy as far bacl
as last April had dropped to fourtl
place in the navies of the world, in Al
estimate made by Franklin d. Roose
welt, at the time acting secretary o
the navy, was made January IL b.
| Congressman A. P. Gardner of Massa
chusetts in an address to the Woman!
Branch of the National Civic FEEDER
alton, meeting in this city. Mr. Roose
velt's conclusion that the Unite
States probably stood fourth was ex
pressed in a letter to Mr.. Gardner last
April. part Of which was read in his
address.
AS Representative Kitchin, the Dem
ocratic floor leader, and his followers
l"continue to insist that we stand sec
ond," Mr.. Gardner urged that Sec
rotary Daniels come out bluntly and
tell us just where we do stand q
fact which could easily be ascertain
ed, said Mr.. Gardner.
He Rlames Pacifists.
At first laying the burden of re-
sponsibility for the war in Europe di.
rectly on the shoulders of the English
pacifists, Mr.. Gardner said, in part:
IF there had been no pacifist move
ment in Great Britain, If the National
Peace Council and other such organi-
cations had never been heard of, il
Lord Roberts had been listened to in.
stead of Norman Angel and the Man
chester Guardian, there would have
been no war in Europe and millions OF
lives would have been spared.
"The Observation-Disclosures of pacifism
deprived England of soldiers and arms
and palsied the government in its deal
ings with Russia and Germany. II
Great Britain, in July, 1914, had said to
Germany: We shall back up Russia
If you fight her. there would have
been no war. But pacifism placed its
trembling hand on Sir Edward Grays
shoulder, Sir Edward hesitated and
was too late.
-is Our Navy Third or Fourth3
"The navy department has just pub.
lished a pamphlet entitled Some OF
the Principal Navies of the World
On page z, find table which shows
that when the European war began
the United States navy was sinking
into fourth place. OF course, Mr..
Kitchin and HIS followers continue to
insist that we stand second. Why
doesn't Secretary Daniels come out
bluntly and tell us. Just where we do
stand? There is not the slightly diff
Guilty ABOUT the matter. Why isn't It
done? For nearly nine months, have
had in my possession q letter from
Franklin D. Roosevelt written when
he was acting secretary Of the navy
last April.
Hitherto have refralned from men.
tioning the existence of this letter;
but just recently ! have obtained con.
sent for its publication. 1t shows that
in the opinion of Acting Secretary
Roosevelt our navy even as long ago
as last April had probably dropped to
fourth place.
Roosevelt's Letter.
NAVY DEPARTMENT
Washington, April 20, 1915.
!" Mr.. Dear Mr.. Gardner:
"'As all of the belligerent nations
are rushing naval construction with
the greatest possible vigor and as they
nave all ldkcn pOSSCoSAou VI NCoSStS
building in home shipyards for foreign
governments, the actual present
strength of their navies is greatly in
excess of what it was at the outbreak
of the war. 1t has been estimated by
some writer's that the English will
have in commission before the end of
this year 16 new dreadnoughts of the
latest type. am therefore forced to
the conclusion that our navy probably
stands fourth on the list at the pres
ent time
"I would thank you very much not
to mention in your address that any
Of this information has been officially
received by the navy department As
stated before. it Is ali based upon
reports published in the daily press
and verifIe4 by the department as far
as is practicable.
Sincerely,
(Signed)
a'FRANKLIN d. ROOSEVELT,