Gilpin observer., 1916-08-24
WASHINGTON NEWS

Washington D. c., Aug. 1S-Ccn-
gress has agreed on the largest nav
al program ever undertaken by any
nation when it was at peace with the
world.
Within three years it is proposed
to lay down ten battleships with the
most powerful armament, at cost Of
Sill. 500 900 each.
Six of the finest battle cruisers to
cost approximately $16,5OO. 900 each.
Ten scout cruisers, possessed of
TIE highest practicable speed, and
to cost $4,000 900 each.
Fifty torpedo boat destroyers, nine
fleet submarines and fifty-eight coast
submarines. besides large number
of auxiliary vessels.
When completed these vessels will
have cost the taxpayers about $780,
900 900, and no one outside an insane
asylum will contend that the United
States navy can not successfully con-
tend in our own waters with the
navy of any other nation.
Existing Fleet Very Strong.
Personally, l am convinced that
the feet we have this minute is am
ply able to handle any force which
could be sent against our shores by
any power with the single exception
of Great Britain. 1 have frequently
expressed that opinion in these let
ters and no evidence has. been pro-
duced to convince me that it was not
wel founded.
All this talk about Japan or Ger
many or France or Italy swoOping
down en- US is arrant nonsense. If
either of these nations sent every
ship it possesses We would be able
to manage the situation. All the ex-
perts agree that would be impossible
as they would be forced to keep some
vessels in reserve to protect their
own ports and TO guard their mer-
chant ships, and therefore we would
never be called upon to fight more
than major fraction of their navy.
So far as England is concerned,
she is not likely to bother us so
long as the Union Jack flys over
Canada.
But, however that may be, there
can be no dispute about this PROPOSE
| ton: Congress, at the suggestion
of President Wilson, has given the
country a navy of such potential fight
may sleep of nights, without fear of
invasion.
The president and congress have
not stopped there. They lave gone
farther.
Appeal for Disarmament.
The bin which authorizes this un-
paralleled building program contains
the nest remarkable appeal for dis
armament ever issued by great
commonwealth to the nations of the
earth. 1t is to be found in the con-
Guiding paragraph S of the bill and ]
believe it is important enough to be
| puOteu III luHl, dS lollOWS.
1T is hereby declared to be the
policy of the United States to ad.
just and settle it's international dis
putes through mediation and arbitra
ton, to the end that war may be
honorably avoided. 1t looks with ap
prehensicn and disfavor upon a gen.
eral increase of armament through
out the world, but it realizes that no
single nation can disarm, and that
without a common agreement upon
the subject every considerable power
must maintain a relative standing in
military strength"
Cannot be Misunder
This appeal is easily understood
The United States. the richest and
most powerful of the nations, says
to the countries which have been
dragged to the brink of bankruptcy
by the militarists:
I'VE have the money and the re.
sources to enable us to construct
the most powerful fighting machines
ever devised by tie mind of man.
But we do not seek supremacy. We
want peace. If you will disarm, we
will dismantle our ships. If you In.
sist on a-ming we will take steps
to safeguard our interests"
If such an appeal is made by Wood
row Wilson at the conclusion of the
European war who can believe 1t will