The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-12-31
j. s. MUST HAVE I
BIGGEST NAVY
Unless League of Nations
Idea is Adopted by Peace
Conference
COMPARES
RELATIVE STRENGTH
United States Will Rank Second Only
to Great Britain on Completion OF
Present Three-Year Program-Arma-
ment of Other Countries.

w btA. o. - itNoH =
league of nations or other tribunal that will
make certain the limitation of internation-
is established, the United States
must build the greatest navy in the world
Secretary Daniels yesterday told the
house naval committee.
1t is my firm conviction" declared the
secretary, that if the conference at Yer
sailles does not result in a general agree
ment to put an end to naval building on
the part of all the nations, then the Unit
ed States must bend her will and bend
her energies, must give her men and give
her money to the task OF the creation
OF incomparably the greatest navy in the
world
With the completion of the proposed |
new three-year building program, adding
10 dreadnoughts, six battle cruisers, 10
scout crousers and 100 smaller craft to the
fleet, America still will rank second in,
naval strength to Great Britain, said the /!
secretary, who appeared before the com
mittee to make his final recommendations
for the 1920 naval bill, which the commit
tee is considering
Does the president back the policy toI
make us the first naval power in the
world" asked Representative Kelly Of
Michigan
Yes, if competitive building is TO con
tinue. said Mr.. Daniels. I'VE are now
easily the second naval power, but this
program will not make us the first
The secretary said that if league of
nations is established. America must pro-
vide large part OF world police neces-
sary to enforce the leagues DEGREES. He
added however, that with such league
! formed 1t would be necessary To carry
ont the full construction program and
asked the committee to include in the
| bill legislation empowering the president
TO stop construction at his discretion if
an international agreement should make
! limitation of armament certainty.
Il would like to let the world know
that we are tremendously interested in
the presidents proposition for reduction
OF armament, declared the secretary.
! in reducing from 5000, 900, 000 to $50. Co.,
600 the amount asked for work on the
new building program during the year be-
ginning next July, Secretary Daniels said
that some further construction was neees-
sary because we want some more modern
ships in our police force.
| Mr. Daniels gave the committee a re-
port showing the relative strength of the
navles OF the leading nations of the world
! Figures for the Japanese navy were not
| available it was said.
| Great Britain has i'll operation or build
ing 81 battleships, l3 battle cruisers, 81
heavy cruisers, III light cruisers, 2l6 pa
| troll and gunboats, 400 destroyers. 2l9 sub
marines, 9S torpedo boats 80 fotilla lead
ers, 30 airships and S97 miscellaneous
ships
The United States, with the second
/ largest navy in the world, has built or pro-
jected 80 battleships, six battle cruisers.
nine armored cruisers. 40 light cruisers.
342 destroyers, lsl submarines, is coast
torpedo vessels, II torpedo boats and $50
other vessels.
France has % battleships, 81 cruisers,
eight light cruisers. % destroyers. l2l tor
pedo boats, 10 submarines. 50 airships and
1873 other craft
Italy has Is batteships, seven cruisers.
10 light cruisers. FIVE monitors. II notilla
leaders, 81 destroyprs. So torpedo boats.
S5 submarines, 30 airships and 40 miscel-
| laneous vessels
| Russia befor quitting the war had l3
battleships, four battle cruisers. y heavy
and nine light cruisers lis destroyers. 81
submarines, l3 torpedo boats, IA airships
and 80 miscellaneous vessels.
| Before the armstice was signed Ger
| ers, 81 other cruisers, 223 destroyers. Us
torpedo boats, 243 submarines and J64
| miscellaneous vessels