Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-23
Admiral Badger Says Panama
Canal Fails to Solve Prob
lem Presented.
U, S. SHOULD DOMINATE
ON PACIFIC OCEAN SIDE
Statement Made Today at Hearing
on Preparedness Before House
Naval Committee.


general board told the House naval
committee today that the Panama ca
nal had failed to solve the problem OF
defending both the Atlantic and "a
cific coasts with one battle fleet, ana
that the defense of the Pacific coast
would require fleet there able 10
dominate that ocean. At its present
strength, he said, the battle fleet should
be kept in the Atlantic as unit, ana
he added that the navy general ooaru
never had suggested that 1t De o''ioeu
between the two oceans.
Inquiry by Representative Stephens.
Representative Stephens of CAN
fornia brought up the subject. ASKING
if the admiral considered the ePac1nc
coast adequately protected with one
obsolete battleship. dozen cruisers
most of them of the third Glass; nine
destroyers and three SUBMARINES IN
fighting trim stationed there. Aomlial
Badger said the a dsngsrtmental poi ic
upon which he did not care - pasS
judgment.
AS to the Panama canal: he said ne
understood the present difficulty with
slides was expected to be overcome
soon, but he thought it questionable
whether the fighting fleet could cross
into the Pacific within year.
Regarded as Confidential.
Mr.. Stephens asked if the policy that
the navy should equal the strongest
afioat by 1925 had not been evolved,
viewing the possibility that it might be
necessary to face two enemies simulta-
peously, one in the Pacific and one in
the Atlantic.
Il can answer that question" Ad-
miral Badger said. but do not think
should do so in open court
VERY WELL" said Representative
Stephens. let it pass"
Admiral Badger disapproved the sug-
sestion for a new naval academy on
the Pacific coast. Annapolis. he said.
could be increased to supply all neces-
sary officers. He urged. however. that
at least so per cent crews be maintain
ed on reserve ships The present policy.
he said. was for forty, but the crews
were actually below thirty. The navy.
he said, was always progressing. and
each year had brought an improve
ment.
Representative Britten isn't it fact
that the navy materially decreased in
efficiency because of our Mexican
policy?'
"Oh. don't think So" answered
Admiral Badger
we have been told So" persisted
Mr.. Britten.
Il know you have. but it is not So
returned Admiral Badger.
Effect Not Serious.
While it was a bad thing to have
the fleet withdrawn from it's routine of
drills and maneuvers to stay at Vera
Cruz the admiral said. it was not seri-
Gus and the i'll effect was quickly and
easily overcome.
Representative Hensley commended
that the training of naval officers might
lead them to look with less dread on
the possibility of war than do other
,, men. Admiral Badger said he could
not agree with that from his half CEN
fury of intimacy with army and navy
officers.
"Of all the people in the United
States he said, none is more OPP
posed to war or anything that would
lead to war than the officers of the
army and navy.
A great navy, he believed, acted as
| a preventive of war.
Navy Third in Fighting Power.
Admiral Badger told the naval af-
fairs committee yesterday that the
floating forces of the United States are
third in fighting power; that the orig
inal plan adopted in 1903, known as
the general board plan." was to effect
a building program to keep the fleet
ahead of Germany's. Under question
ing. the admiral said that the construc-
ton of three additional dreadnaughts
and eight battle cruisers would place
the fleet on a par with Germany to-
day, as far as capital ships are con-
cerned.
Admiral Badger urged great in
crease in the present fleet.
Not Big Enough for Possibilities.
II do not want to give the impress
sion" he said. that cur fleet is no
good The only trouble with it Is that
it is not big enough for possibilities.
It's a good feet, well drilled, well
equipped and well organized. We are
now prepared just as far as our power
will permit US to be. More power
means more ships"
Regarding the present place of the
United States fleet among the navies
of the world, Admiral Badger said he
cIassed it as third in fighting power.
with France a close fourth
Il think we are No. g." he said.
Japan is coming along. bue has
a good deal to do to equal our fleet.
In military power-fghting efficiency
| think we are pretty good third,
with France not far behind"