The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-04-26
WORLD NAY Be
DISARMED BY
U. 5. INFLUENCE
Plan of Abandoning Con-
struction of Big Ships
Likely to Affect Nations.
BUILDING NOW AS
FUTURE INSURANCE
Alliance Necessary Should
America Give Up It's
Present Program.

Il
Washington, April E26.-Considera-
ton of the abandonment of Americas
big navy building program, which is
under discussion, suggests possibili-
ties for the future which may even be
the initial step in International dis
armament. The decision to abandon
the building program is by no means
reached, but it is under discussion. It
Is understood that the nations with
which America is allied would be glad
to see the building program abandon
ed, but this by no means registers
American judgment on the subject
But this desire to see America aban-
don her navy building program is
based both upon selfish reasons and
upon reasons which may appeal to the
United States.
Ships Not Available For This Year.
The naval program which is under
way involves the building Of many
monster battleships, which will not be
ready for use in this war. They can
hardly be completed within three
years, after which the present war
probably will be over. The Importance
Of their building is to preserve peace
in the future and to guarantee Ameri-
ca against attack. They are insurance
policies against war. The decision to
embark on this program is part of the
|
and that ability to resent injury is the
best guarantee of peace. To that ex-
tent they are tremendously important
and the government will undoubtedly
give the subject most careful thought
before abandoning the program.
But there are other issues involved.
The present war demands the building
of fleet which will meet the subma-
rine peril. Such a program demands
nj mil n
and submarine chasers, but OF an inn
mense fleet of ocean carriers. These
ships are to be built Of wood, but some
steel will go into their making and
the supply of steel is not inexhaustible
even in this country.
Steel Plants Far Behind on Orders.
The big steel companies have been
unable to take allied contracts for
steel construction delivery and pay
ment guaranteed far beyond the pres
ent time and at 500 a ton. Orders
are being placed for 1919 and rail-
roads find it impossible to secure steel
for new construction.
With the entrance Of the United
States into the war, there will be a
tremendous program of munition man
ufacturing beyond anything that took
place during the time when the allied
powers were filing American factories
/
and still more steel.
| Again, the building OF the naval
units means utilizing available ship
yards that could be used for the build
ing Of commercial ships.
1t is apparent that the construction
Eof merchant ships and the construc-
ton OF submarine destroyers Is the
program in which the United States
could be most probably interested so
far as the present war is concerned.
But it is the problem after the war
that concerns America. A proposition
/ to the world to disarrn should be
backed by an American fleet which
would give such a proposition dignity
and effect The war may witness the
loss of some of the units now existing
which would lessen the available naval
power of the United States as 1t ex-
lists today.
The problem is one that will UNI
doubleday be discussed at the interna-
tional council to be held in Washing
/ ton. The abandonment Of Americas
naval program would mean reliance
upon the naval power Of some other
country to come to the assistance of
the United States If attacked and
such reliance resolves itself into an
alliance 1t would probably be the first
4
to enforce peace" to which the presi-
dent is committed and would be the
initial movement in the inauguration
i of a league of honor.
i How far-reaching such a program
might be is something which no one
can estimate. At all events. the de-
cision presents itself as one of tre-
lmendous Importance to the govern
ment and the people Of the United
States and undoubtedly will not be
reached without the most careful
4 searching out of every detail entering
into it.