Grand Forks herald., 1916-08-17
NAVAL INCREASES.

The passage of the naval bill in SUBJ
stantially it's present form. which now
appears to be assured. will place the
United States second among the ma
tions of the world in naval strength.
No program similar in character and
cost was ever before launched at one
time by any nation. This is because
what other nations have grown into
the United States has neglected until
there was pressed upon her the need
for immediate and comprehensive ac-
ton. and the new bill is evidence of
our realization. belated though it be.
Of the fact that we can no longer with
safety ignore the plain lessons Of the
| times
The bill provided for three year
building program. and this is one of
it's very important features. Thus
far we have built piecemeal as the
| whim Of the moment dictated. and
there has been neither order nor
system in our work. The work of one
year has not been related to that Of
the year before or the year after.
This time we are approaching the
work in somewhat the same spirit
that is shown by the business man
who plans large and costly additions
to his plant. There is look into the
future and measure Of unity in our
performance.
AS to types Of vessels, that is large
ly a matter for expert decision. The
| nj of SAPn t.,
an exact science, and competent and
experienced men have differed in the
past as they will continue to differ
concerning the precise details which
are likely to give the best results.
This divergence Of opinion has been
used as the basis Of arguments against
all increases in either army or navy.
Attention has been called to the fact
that one expert emphasizes the bat
tleship, another the battle cruiser,
and others the lighter craft. while it
has been shown in Europe that forti-
f1cations built with the greatest skill
possessed by man, and supposed to be
impregnable. have crumbled to
powder beneath the lammertng Of
the great guns Therefore It has
been urged that expenditure on
further preparation would be folly
until the experts themselves were
agreed on exactly what was needed.
| 1t would be as sensible to urge that
we go without clothing when winter
approaches because science has not
yet discovered Just what type Of ma
terial is the very best under all cir
cumstances Instead of committing
that folly, and freezing to death, we
clothe ourselves as best we can. and
hope to be able to DO still better later
do in the matter Of national defense
is to use the best knowledge we have,
and act accordingly.
The program now being completed
contemplates the building Of 1877 war
vessels of all classes within the next
three years, with ive battleships and
five battle cruisers to. be completed
during 1917. There is very general
agreement among experienced men
that. while vessels OF all types are
necessary. the real foundation of a
navy is its heavy craft. Nothing that
has occurred in this war indicates
that q navy that 70 worth while can
exist without the heaviest type of
fighting vessel. armed with the biggest
guns that can be mounted. We have
some ships Of this type, but We have
not enough Of them. OF ths second
, class, the battle cruiser which COM
binss effective striking power With
great speed, but With smaller rssist-
ance than the bAttleship. We have
nops. and II " now agrssd that q
navy u incomplsts without . aunabef
OF these useful vessels.
This cannot ~ rsga.AsA - pas&sssu
isgislataOn. II isas bsSn useeA 70.
} esstiy ~ . Democratic pssslAsnt, bu,
President Wilson IL but q recent con.
vert to the idea on which this bill I.
based. The psissiDie has been urssl
for years by Republicans, ana haA /,
. not been for Republican work and
Republican votes ths bljl could NO,
have psasAA this conspssa A. Il n
Im0rs Democras1e than AsDsb,ieas
votes were cast against the biii, ant
ths Democratic chairman OF IN,
house committs on naval affairs Lex