Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-31
DANIELS INSISTS ON
BIG NAVY PROGRAM
Says Wilson Favors Building Plan
Which Will Aid at Paris
Peace Conference.

Washington. Dec. 31.-Secretary Dan
icls. testifying before the House Naval
Affairs Committee today in advocacy of
the new three-year naval building pro-
gram to cost 5000, 900. asserted that
this nation desired to enter the Paris
Peace Conference with the assurance from
Congress that the American Navy would
be enlarged to a size commensurate with
that of the greatest naval power.
Mr.. Daniels explained that the new
threc-vear program which President Will
son, he. and the General Board of the navy
wished Congress to adopt this session was
approved by the President after the sign
ing of the amistice. This program, when
putting the American Navy close to that
of England.
PLAN COULD BE MODIFIED.
1t was evident from MIR. Daniels testi-
mony that If the Peace Conference should
declare for a reduction or limitation OF
naval armament the new American naval
building program could be modified or
suspended.
Il may say that You cannot do any
thing in the world which would SO strength
en- this country's position III the Peace
Conference. said Mr. Daniels, 'as to
Before | wrote my annual report | took
up the matter Of big building program
with the President. and then. later. after
the arrnlsticc was signed | spoke to him
again on this subject. lie very earnestly
urges that this program be adopted
Nothing would SO aid him IN the Peace
Conference rs Congress's authorization
Of 4 big navy
NEW SHIPS ASKED FOR.
The now program recommended by
Secretary Daniels and the General Board
~ the Navy calls for the building Of 10
first-class battleships, q battle cruisers,
10 scout cruisers, and 130 small craft.
II Is estimated that such program would
place the nitcd States on the same rcla-
tive footing with Great Britain, giving
this country, with the vessels now building,
g. first-ciass battleships, while England
has 81 al present In commission
II is the desire OF Secretary Danels
and the navy officials TO have navy which
Will be as large as that of any other coun-
:rv. not only for defensive purposes but
for policing in case a League Of Nations
Is enforce peace IS created at the Versailles
conference.
DISARMAMENT OR BIG NAVY.
What il. unhappily, the Peace Con-
ference should fail to come to an agreement
upon plan for disarmament? asked MIR.
Daniels Suppose the powers do not
agree to curtail armament. Then it IS
entirely obvious to all that the United
States. if she is 10 realize her destiny us
leader OF democratic impulse II she Is to
play her proper part, as she. hand in hand
with her incompatible allies has played
il in this war in the protection OF small
nations. the preservation Of the freedom
Of the seas and for the world ST large. must
have a navy that viii be as powerful as
that OF any nation IN the wo-ld.
1T is my firm conviction that If the
conference at Versailles does not result
IN general agreement to put an end
to naval building on the part Of al
nations. then the United States must
bend her viii and bend her energies,
must give her men and give her money
TO the task Of the creation Of lncom-
parably the greatest navy IN the world.
DUTY OF UNITED STATES.
"She has no designs upon the ter
rtory, or the trade, of any other ma
tIon. or group Of nations But she Is
pledged TO the support Of the Monroe
Doctrine. She is pledged TO the protec-
tion Of the weak wherever they may
suffer threats She i incomparably
rlch. incomparably strong in natural re-
sources. II need be. she must be in
comparably strong in defense against
aggressors and in offense against evil
doors
While the signing of the armistice
naturally brought reduction by the
Navy Department in it's estimates for
the next fiscal year, Secretary Daniels
declined to change his recommendations
for the new naval building program.
For the next fiscal year, however, he
merely asks for authorization to e2pend
s55, 5000, 900 on the new program, which
amount he intends to Use for the con-
struction Of two battleships
The original estimates submitted To
Congress asked for al appropriation for
the navy OF 81, GA ,307 ,O46 05 These were
prepared at time when 1t was thought
that the war would continue another
year Since the signing Of the armistice,
the estimates have been reduced by ST.
66S, 403, 424 II, making the revised esti-
mates before the committee 1875, ,9O3,-