The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-03-02
NAVAL POLICY
Change Explained ny Admiral Badger
Who Appears In Closed Session
Of Committee To Disclose
Reasons.

Washington, ID. C.-Rear Admiral
Charles J. Badger appeared last week
before the House Naval Committee in
executive session to disclose the inter
national considerations which prompt
ed the Naval General Board last year
to change it's policy and declare for a
United States navy to equal the
strongest ahoat not later than 1925
He was also to discuss the time re-
qulred to get the American feet ready
for action against first-class naval
power.
The discussion of the boards views
Of dangers that may confront the ma
ton was brought behind closed doors
at the request at Admiral Badger
when he examination in open session
was concluded. Representative Ste
phens of California. asked IL the board
in altering its time-honored policy
did not have in mind the possibility
that the country might have to face ST.
multaneously foes in the Pacific and
Atlantic
Admiral Badger refused to discuss
the subject in detail i'm open session.
He declared, however, that the only
sure protection for the Pacific coast
was a fleet capable of dominating the
Pacific ocean. He said that earth
slides in the Panama canal made i'm
possible for possibly another year the
use of the Atlantic feet i'm either
ocean. He deferred further discussion
of the canal situation to the closed
session.
While the committee was examin-
ing Admiral Badger the Senate and
House Military Committees were at
work on the details of the army part of
national defense legislation.
No War With England.
Admiral Badger expressed the opin-
ion that should the United States
adopt a two-power standard navy such
as recommended by the General Board
Great Britain would not alter her rate
of construction, at least until the gap
between the two fleets had been ma
terially reduced Earlier in his testi-
mony he had Sabine did not consider
war with Great Britain even a remote
possibility. Replying to a question by
Representative Galloway the Admiral
said that in framing the S2S5,00O,000
building programs, the first proposed
under its new policy, the board had
been going on the theory that it was
necessary to get as many big ships as
possible added to the feet in the short
est time the country's building facili-
ties would permit
DO you think we have the same
reason for desiring supremacy of the
sea that England has?" Representa-
tive Galloway asked.
mot at present, perhaps" the wit
ness replied, "but eventually we would
have to reach out for our share of
world trade and anybody who stood in
the way of our getting a fair deal
would have to be dealt with"
Admiral Badger repudiated a sug-
gestion that military men viewed all
international problems from the
standpoint of force, while statesmen
looked upon force and diplomacy as
equal arms of government.
ultimately, however" he added,
diplomacy depends on force. When
diplomacy fails it must either aban-
don its object or call in force"
Representative Britten asked if the
General Board had not made a rec
ommendation in 1914 which Secre-
tsry Daniels had refused to make pub
lie unless its remarks as to personnel
In the navy were stricken out Pre-
facing his reply with the statement
that Secretary Daniels was the first
Secretary to make public the boards
in full and that they
were regarded as for the confidential
use of the secretary only in navy reg
ulations, Admiral Badger said:
Il think much more had been made
of that incident than is justified" He
explained that the board had made
Recommendation as to person
mel, amplifed with substantial tables !
to show its effect, When an ex-of- |
ficio member Of the board later sug-
gested that the secretary was disin-
nlined to publish the statistical part |
ot the recommendations these had
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