The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-24
Examination of Admiral Badger in Open Meeting
 Concluded - Refuses to Discuss Possible Dangers
CANAL USELESS AS
 MEANS OF DEFENSE
 FOR ANOTHER YEAR
Further Discussion Deferred Until Today-Does Not Regard War With Great
 Britain Even Possibility

Washington. February 3-International considerations which moved the navy general board to change it's time honored policy last year and declare that the United States navy should equal the strongest afloat by not later than 1925 will be disclosed to the House military committee tomorrow in executive session by Rear Admiral Charles J. Badger, a member of the board. Examinations of Admiral Badger in open session was con- cluded today, the admiral consistently refusing to discuss except behind closed doors the boards view of dangers that may confront the nation.
 The subject came up when Representa- tive Stephens of California, seeking to show that the Pacific coast was made quately defended, asked if the board in altering it's policy did not have in mind the possibility 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 explained, how ever, that a fleet capable of dominating the Pacific ocean was the only sure pro- lection for the Pacific coast, and said that the earth slides in the Panama canal had made impossible for the present and possibly for another year the use of the fleet in either ocean. Further discussion of the canal closure also was deferred to the closed session.
 NOT A POSSIBILITY Admiral Badger expressed the opinion that should the United States adopt a two-power standard navy, such as reconn- mended by the general board. Great Britain would not alter her rate of con- struction 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 remote possibility.
 Replying to question by Representa- tive Galloway, the admiral said that in framing the s2S5OoO,OOO building pro- gramme. as first proposed under its new policy, the board had been going on the theory that it was necessary to get as many big ships as possible added to the fleet in the shortest time the country s building facilities would permit
 Do you think we have the same req son for desiring supremacy of the sea that England has?" Representative Call laway asked.
 Not at present, perhaps" the witness 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 stand point of force while statesmen look ed upon force and diplomacy as equal arms of government.
 ultimately. however,. he added, "diplomacy depends on force. When diplomacy fails it must either aban- don its object or call in force"
 Representative Britten asked if the general board had not made a recom- mendation in 1914 which Secretary Daniels had refused to make public un- less it's remarks as to personnel in the navy were stricken out. Prefacing his reply with the statement that Secre-
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