Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-31
Us. MUST BE
 THf SUPR PREME NAVAL POWER
11nless There Is Limitation If International Arma-
 ment, Says. Sec. Daniels.

loapue of nations or other tribunal that will make certain the iimtat on of international armament, is estab- Gshed, the United States must build Ae greatest navy in the world, Sec rtary Daniels today told the house naval committee.
 It is my firm conviction" declared inc secretary, that if the conference at Versailles does not result in a gen. eral agreement to put an end to naval building on the part of all nations, then the United States must bend her energies must give her men and give her money to the task of the creation of incomparatively the greatest navy in the world"
 With the completion of the propos- ed new three year guilding program, adding ten dreadnaughts, six battle cruisers, ten scout cruisers and 130 smaller craft to the fleet, America still will rank second in naval strength to Great Britain said the secretary, who appeared before the committee to make his final recommendation for the 1920 naval bill which the commit tee is considering.
 Does the president back the pol- cy to make us the first naval power in the world?" asked Representative Kelly of Michigan.
 "Yes, if competitive building is to continue" said MT. Daniels. "We are now easily the second naval power. but this program will not make us the first
 The naval secretary said that if a league of nations is established America must provide large part of ! world police force necessary to en- trce the decrees. He added, how yer, that with such a league formed twould not be necessary to carry out he full construction program, and lked the committee to include in the hfl legislation to empower the presi- dent to stop construction at his dis retion if any international agreement should make limitation of armament 3 certainty.
 '" would like to let the world know that we are tremendously interested n the presidents pronosition for re-
 
 sa'retarv. N
 In formally submitting the new building program, the secretary urged provision for suspension of con- afuction at the order of the presi- oent whenever an international agree ment is made for armament reduct- En.
 MT Daniels declared the United S'ates, having pledged it's support to small nations, should build a navy second to none in the world if an in- srnatlonal tribunal with power to en- lorce its rulings failed to become a reality nt
 Representative Kelly of Michigan, asked the secretary when he first ame to the conclusion that America mould have navy second to none in the world
 T came to that conclusion when the sar broke out," was the reply Until nat time l believed that the working People who suffer from wars, and anKers and business men who pay wars should be, considered before ae miiitarists. But when I realized lat the militarists of another nation lsnt plunge the world into war at ssr Will, realized that I was wrong. mess we have navy which can lick " other navy in the world, we may well have nOne."
 MT. Daniels said the war had soaght out clearly two points: First aal national differences and greed for ower are unsafe and must be elimin- " and second, that a national trl- uhal With power to enforce it's rul- asS Is essential. tne secretary submitted to the com 1ee a report showing the present Mparative strengths of the large sles of the world. Great Britain has operation 61 battleships, 13 battle .,o,sers, 31 heavy cruisers, Ill ligh tuisers, 216 patrol and gunboats, 4O' .Foyers, 219 submarines, 9S torpedo s. o2 flotilla leaders, 220 airshlp! S97 miscellaneous ships.
 me United States, with the seconf sest navy in the world, has built o1 o!ected 39 battleships, six battle sners, 8 armored cruisers, 40 ligh users, 342 destroyers, 1S1 subma coast torpedo vessels, 17 tor o boats and 569 other vessels.
 aelore the armistice was signe' many had AZ battleships, ,6 battl ssers, 51 other cruisers, 223 des ITS, l75 torpedo boats, 243 subma ss and 564 miscellaneous vessels sanee has 20 battleships, 2l crul
 5 light cruisers, 92 destroyers
 sorpedo boats, 70 submarines, 5
 nlps and 183 other craft.
 1V has IS battleships, ' cruisers
 neht cruisers, five monitors, l
 aia leaders, 54 destroyers, S3 tol
 boats, 85 submarines, 30 ar
 and 442 miscellaneous vessels
 ssls before sYitt!ng the war 1s
 Continued on page sl1'