The sun., 1918-12-31


thorough study OF the progress made
abroad In new types be made FIRST. I,
is intended to send Rear Admiral Tay-
ior. Chief Constructor, and Rear Ad-
miral Griffin, Chief OF the Bureau OF
steam Engineering. to. foreign countries
10 take up this study before laying down
specifications.
How will YOU settle how large our
navy shall be II league of nations Ia
created?" asked Representative Butler
(Pa.).
we ought to contribute in units
power and men Just as much as any
other nation and not allow any other
nation to have more power than we
nave" Secretary Daniels said. 1--WE
Know the strength of the navies of the
world and we should build to equal OF
surpass the size OF the greatest navy ir
the world, that of Great Britain"
DO we need the most powerful in the
worldH" asked Representative Keiie,
| (Mich.).
Absolutely" Mr.. Daniels replied with.
out hesitation.
When did you come to that conclu.
sion?' Mr.. Kelley then asked.
Until the outbreak OF the war
thought that the capitalists and the
iaboring people would be strong enough
, even In Germany to overcome the infiu.
ence OF the militarists." said Mr.. Dan.
iels. When found that I was wrone
then saw the necessity of having the
biggest navy in the world for tho United
States. In 1915 IL we had had the facil.
tiles 1 would have asked for an ever
larger programme than was authorized
by Congress. Looking back now see
that 1t was n mistake to have even the
second best navy In the world. ! now
think II is an indefensiolo thought &c
have any navy but the most powerful II
the peace conference falls to limit arma-
ments."
The Secretary then made this signifi.
cant and revealing statement:
1T Is the, most powerful argument In
the hands OF the President toward secur-
ing Limitation Of armamentsAto permit
him to go to the peace conferences with
the assurance that the United States IL
prepared TO build a navy bigger than
any In the world unless the nations
agree to limit naval armaments"
Later he said he did not wish that
statement to appear in the printed rec.
ord.
The Secretary was asked II he thought
the American people knew he had ir
mind making the American Navy second
to none in the world when he asked for
the three year building programme OF
1916.
People Knew OF Bis Navy Plans
IT think So" he said. MANY people
thought l ought to have gone further
then than did"
do YOU think there Is great diplo.
! ratio advantage to the United States ir
| being able to say TO England that II
must agree to a limitation of armaments
or the United States will build a navy
able to whip the British navy" Repre-
sentative Kelley demanded.
IL have great faith that when the
peace conferences adjourn there will be
an agreement to limit armaments." Mr.
Daniels responded. III there is nc
agreement then we must build the ships
so as to have such a powerful navy thai
It would make any nation IN the world
think several times before venturing &c
attack, us"
Has England been bidding during
the war; was then asked.
Mr. Daniels said that England had one
battleship Sc per cent. completed and
two others 10 per cent. completed, all OF
which were started since the war began
He explained that England's main at.
tention was given to building Destroyer
while the war was In progress TO combat
German submarines.
How many of these projected ship:
would we need IL the peace conferees
agree to limit arrhaments?' Mr.. Daniels
was asked.
Certainly those contemplated for the
first year. We must expect to contribute
our share to the international police forct
which undoubtedly will be organized"
The Secretary then submitted to the
committee statements showing the rela-
tive strength of the navies OF the United
States, Great Britain, Franco. Russia
Italy, and also the strength of the Ger
man navy prior to the signing of the
armistice. Tho figures are given below
in the order OF strength, with minor and
auxiliary craft eliminated: