Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-02-24
international Considera-
tons Which Resulted in
Change to BE Told.
ADMIRAL REFUSED
TO TALK IN PUBLIC
Improved Defense of Pa
cific Coast One of Most
Urgent Demands.
NIASlIINGTON, Feb. 23. - Inter-
w national considerations which

"AsliINGToN. Feb. 30. - Inter-
w national considerations which
moved the navy general board to
change its time-honored policy last
year and declare that the United
States navy should equal the strong
est afloat by not later than 1925 will
be disclosed to the house military
committee tomorrow in executive ses-
sion by Rear Admiral Charles j.
Badger, member of the board
Examination of Admiral Badger In
open session was concluded today. the
admiral consistently refusing to dis
cuss except behind closed doors the
boards views OF dangers that may
confront the nation.
The subjcC: came up when Repre-
sentative stephens of California,
seeking to show that the Pacific
coast was inadequately defended,
asked If the board in altering its poll
icy did not have Is mind the possibil-
ity that the country might have to
face simultaneously enemies in the
Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Admiral
Badger said he could answer that
only in executive session. He ex-
planned, however, that "A fleet capable
of dominating the Pacific ocean was
the only sure PFC lection for the Pa
cific coast and said that the earth
slides in the Parama canal had made
impossible Tor the present. and pos
sibly for another year, the use of the
fleet in either ocean Further dis
cussion of The canal closure also was
deferred to the closed session.
About Great Britain.
Admiral Hadger expressed the
opinion that should the United
"A Gfn dar
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 materially reduced.
Earlier in his testimony he had said
he did not consider war with Great
Britain even iemote possibility.
Replying to question by Repre-
sentative Galloway, the admiral said
that in framing the $2S5,OOO, 900
building program it first proposed un-
der its new policy the board had been
going on the theory that ii was neces-
sary to get as many big ships as pos
sible added to the fleet in the shortest
time the country's building facilities
would permit.
''Do YOU think we have the same
reason for desiring supremacy of the
sea that England has?" Representa-
tive Galloway asked
Not 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 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 ana diplomacy as
equal arms Of government.
ultimately, however," he added,
diplomacy depends on force When
diplomacy fails it must either aband-
en- its object, or call .on the force"
Daniels Didn't Object
Representative Britten asked if the
general board had not made a rec
oinmerdation in 1914 which Secretary
Daniels had refused to make public
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
recommendations in full and that they
were regarded as for the confidential
use of the secretary only. in navy reg
ulations Admiral Badger said:
81 think much more had been
made of that incident than is iusti-
fled He explained that the board
a