The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1916-02-17
President Declares for
Greatest Navy in World

Washington, Feb. IA new naval
program, vastly greater than that re-
Gently recommended by the administ-
tration, is called for by President Will
sons latest declaration, on prepared
ness. At St. Louis, Mo-, the president
summed up his conclusions as to the
navy when he said: '"The American
navy ought, in my judgment, to be in
ccmparably the greatest navy in the
world"
In order to carry out this recommen-
dation congress will have to authorize
increases four times as great as the
prOgram recently submitted by the
secretary of the navy. That program
calls for the expenditure of $502,4S2,-
IA in five years. However, in order to
even equal Great Britain's navy bill by
1912, congress will have to authorize
program calling for $2,225,996,2OS. 1t
win be necessary to authorize the con-
Struction of H. first-line ships-dread-
naughts and battle cruisers, instead of
the 16 proposed in the present admin
1stration program.
When the present war broke out in
August, 1914, Great Britain had as first
line ships-36 dreadnaughts and 10
battle cruisers-built and building. The
United States at that time had II
dreadnaughts and no battle cruisers
Guilt and building.
The total tonnage of the British
navy, including fighting ships only,
and only those less than 20 years old,
btilt and building at that time was
1,713,756 tons. This was more than
shree times the total tonnage of the
United States navy fighting craft,
which was at that time S94,8S9 tons
Guilt and building.
Since the war began, according to
The best evidence to be obtained by
Our navy department, Great Britain
has laid down ships whose total ton
mage equals the entire strength Of the
American navy. She thus has at the
wesent time navy approximately
four times the size of the American
navy. If the British have built at only
the same rate as they were building be
fore: the war (they have probably
greatly increased the rate) they are
laying down at least six capital ship!
X year to two for the United States.
By 1921, the United States navy viii
have Gf the pending administration
prugram is authorized by congress) q
arst-line battleships and six battle
cruisers, or 80 frst-line ships. If thu
British navy builds at only twice thu
rate the United States builds (Which il
slower than she was proceeding befor'
the outbreak Of war; England will il
1921 have 88 ships of the first line
Thus the United States would be onl.
IS first-line ships short of eQualin'
The British navy.
The only way to take first place II
naval strength, as the president say
We must do, would be to authorize tn
construction Of IA capital ships pc
year, plus the necessary scout cruisers
destroyers, fleet and coast submarines
aeroplanes, gunboats, hospital, ammu
milton, fuel and repair ships to balanc
such a program, together with tn
necessary additional appropriations TO
ahe upkeep and extension of the nava
establishment, navy yards and docks.
The present program will not kee
ahe United States even with German
i'm naval strength. At the outbreak Q
ihe war Germany had 1,305,640 tons G
naval craft built and building while tn
United States had as stated S94,88
tons. Germany had % first line veE
sells built and building-20 dreat
naughts and eight battle cruisers
while the United States had, as state
~ dreadnaughts and no battle cruisers
It is known that Germany has adde
very greatly to her navy since the wa
began, but if it be assumed that tn
German building program has onl
eQualed that of the United States, an
will only equal that at present pre-
posed for the U. S. during the mex
Eve years, at the end of that time tn
United States would still be third i
naval strength, Germany then havin
~ first-line ships to 80 for the Unite
States.
This comparison takes no account q
the eight irst-line ships of the Austre
Hungarian navy at the outbreak of tn
war, Or any additions which may hav
Been made, or which will be made t
mat navy of Germany's ally.
It is quite evident, therefore, that
lie United States is to have "incon
DaTably the greatest navy in tn
world" the nresent nroeram will hav