Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-31
GIVE US A WATCH DOG THAT
CAN WATCH

! DEFoRB the little navy men in the
- House carry their fight against an
adequate Increase In the sea forces Of the
nation to a finish they should give serious
thought to what Is and has been happen.
ing in the North Sea-
In the summer of 1914 winston Church.
Ill, then First Lord of the Admiralty, had
mobilized tho British navy in the Chan
mel, ostensibiy for practice maneuvers.
Whether he had premonition of coming
trouble, or whether It was one of those
lucky chances of which the historians
hand ready for action. As soon as mobli.
zation began on the Continent Churchill
ordered the fleet to take UP a position off
Kiel, and the ships got in sight of the
German naval station before the Germans
had time to move. 1t is believed by some
experts that II IL had not been for this
readiness, this prompt action, Great Brit.
ain would have been invaded by Ger.
man force and the country would have
been laid waste as northern France has
been devastated.
The British navy has saved England
and has kept British soil practically invlo.
late. The British were unprepared on
land, but they were prepared on sea, for
the reason that 1t was by the sea alone
that they anticipated invasion.
America is in similar position. If we
have an adequate navy we can defend
our shores and destroy an enemy before
he gets in sight of land. If Representa-.
tive Kitchln and those who believe with
him have their way the enlargement OF
the navy will be delayed If not prevented
altogether.
The little navy men fought in the House
for building program that should pro.
vide for five battle cruisers and no battle.
ships. They failed to carry their col.
leagues with them, for the naval bill as
It was sent to the Senate called for four
battle cruisers and two battleships. The
Senate. with better appreciation of the
exigencies of the situation, amended the
bill by authorizing the construction of
four battleships instead of two along with
the four cruisers to which the House had
consented. Contracts for these are to be
awarded this year, and arrangements were
made for a continuing program OF con.
struction to extend over three years.
Unless the House agrees to the Senate
program the navy will be weaker in three
years than 1t is now. To keep our sea
force up to its present strength 1t is
necessary to put in commission a new
battleship every year to take the place OF
the old ships which become obsolete. The
navy is weaker now than it was three
years ago because of the neglect of Con.
gress to authorize necessary construction.
None of the new ships to be voted can be
put in commission in less than two years
and 1t is more likely to require three
years. even If work could begin as soon
as the contracts were awarded. When
the new ships are built the navy will be
no stronger than II ought to be now. It
is imperative that construction be con-
tinuous. and that enough new ships be
built to take the place of those which
must go to the scrap heap. as well as
enough to strengthen us on the sea until
we are able to meet any possible foe and
beat him off.
Such program is not dictated by hys.
terra, but by ordinary prudence. The
nation demands 1t and the lower house
will fail In its representative capacity un-
less It responds promptly and whole
heartedly to the undoubted urging of
patriotic America.
The President has put himself behind
the Senate program and is using all his
influence In it's favor. Whatever is done
with the Senate amendments TO the army
appropriation bill. it will be grievous
blunder to reduce the naval appropria-
tions which the Senate voted.
"