New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-21
Fighting a Government
Plant, He Cites Weak
ness of Navy.
ONLY Is FIRST LINE
WAR CRAFT READY
Build More BattleShips for De-
fence, Instead of Trying EX-
periments, Says Senator.
,E-on. II. rrlhnn. RlreauI

From Tie Tribun. Bureau
Washington, March 20.-Only fifteen
first line ships out Of the forty-one
talked about could be modified by the
United States Navy in case OF an emer-
gency, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge de-
clared 20 the Senate to-day in attack
ing the Tillmsn bill for an $1,000 600
government armor plant. Mr.. Lodge
made a strong plea for efficiency SIS
against the spirit of hatred of any one
who makes a dollar
Here we have been devoting our
time in the Naval Committee TO this
armor plant VIXEN we ought 20 have
been devoting it 70 the navy Of the
United States he said. THE armor
plant will not he Of the slightest bene-
III in the direction Of national defence,
and what we should think OF first IS
the defence Of the country. That is
what the American people desire. They
are not interested in armpor plants.
They do not want anything done that
may arrest tho building Of fleet.
1--WE hear that We have forty-one
battleships, built or building or au-
thorizcd Those that are building or
authorized arc simply ships on paper.
What it IS important FOR US 70 know is
the strength Of our actual fighting
feet which car defend the coasts Of
tho United States II war should come
upon rs. Let NE analyze those forty
one ships.
Nine Not Yet Built
Nine Of them are building or author
lied. That leaves thirty-two.
There are recorded in the directory
Of February ]. 1916, as out of commits
sion the Indiana. the Iowa and the
Massachusetts. The Iowa was author
led in 1892 and the Indiana and Mas
sachusctts in 1890. 7 think they were
commissioned in 1894. They arc out
Of commission. That leaves twenty
nine.
The Oregon, which ia in full COM
mission. is more than twenty years old.
"She was built a. the same time as the
Indiana and the Massachusetts, and
although now on special service, IS
supcrannuated for the battle line. That
leaves twenty-oight
In commission, but in reserve, are
tho North Dakota and the Georgia,
which arc also under repair, and the
Alabama. Illinois. Maine, Missouri, Ohio
and Wisconsin, total OF eight. That
leaves twenty. Those are vessels in
commission but In reserve. and we are
told that this u done in other countries,
but IL is done with this important
difference: The ships in reserve in
other countries have their full compile
mcnt Of men. Our ships in reserve
have not half their compliments Of
mon. They are stripped Of their men IN
order 10 supply the feet, because we
have a shortage Of seamer. due 10 the
failure Of Congress 70 appropriate, and
tho result is that these ships are. for
tho time being, really out OF commits
sion.
Three Must BE Rebuilt.
THAT leaves twenty. There arc also
under repair the New Hampshire, Yer
mont. Connecticut and Kearsargc.
There is some structural defect IN
them. am sorry 10 say. and they will
have TO be largely rebuilt. That
leaves sixteen.
The Kentucky is stationed AZ Vera
Cruz. Therefore We are able to mob
ilize fifteen ships OF the first fighting
line. with three submarines, no air
craft and no battle cruisers.
"Why, in 1907. with a total OF TWEEN
ty-threc ships. We were able 10 mobil-
lie sixteen. which left Hampton Roads
and went around the world. And now
the country is treated 10 the statement
that we have forty-onc ships and yet
We can mobilize but fifteen ships,
or. including the Kentucky, sixteen;
and il we can add the Oklahoma, Ne
vada and Pennsylvania in the course
of the next few months as | hope We
shall-we shall have nineteen.
TO turn from building UP the
American navy TO wasting money on
the doubtful experiment OF armor
plants in order that somebody shall be
prevented from making money, seems
10 me little short OF criminal"
Senator Pittman said that the gov
eminent had no thought Of driving
private manufacturers out OF business,
and insisted that II war should come
the government could command the
capacity Of the private concerns.
Senator Hitchcock said government
manufacture OF armor plate would tend
70 remove suspicion that national
disputes were aggravated into wars by
manufacturers who would profit by the
sale Of war material.
Vote on the bill will be taken by
unanimous consent az O'Clock to-
morrow afternoon.