Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-13
ADMIRAL BADGER
URGES j. s. NAVY
SECOND TO NOM:
End of Hostilities Should
Not Alter Nations Plans
to Build Big Fleet.
HELD PRINCIPAL SUPPORT
OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Will Be Required to Contribute
Large Share of Interna-
tional Police Force.
REVIEWS WORK UNDER WAY
Minc Swcepcrs and Patrol Vessels
Are Needed, as Well as Sub
marines of Large Type.
REVIEWS WORK UNDER WAY:
Mine Swcepcrs and Patrol VESSEL,
Are Needed, as Well as Sub
marines of Large Type.

marines of Large Type.
VASE NOTION. December i2.-
Neither the end of hostil!:ies nor pro-
posals for league OF nations has al
tered the policy of the general board
Of the navy in regard to making the
American navy second to none in the
world Rear Admiral Charles J. Bad.
sGT chairman OF the executive com
liousc Naval Affairs Committee that
the navy should be equal to that of
any other nation by 1925, and urged
mat sufficient appropriations To make
inns possible be made by Congress.
The general board believes that un-
der The present world conditions and
iuture Admiral Badger said. the
United States Navy should steadily
should be equal to the most powerful
maintained by any other nation OF the
world; world; Year by year developmen'
facilities of the country: hut the limi,
above defined should be attained not
later than 1875
port Of league of nations. and the
United states from It's wealth, innu-
ence and poweT; viii be called upon
10 contribute a lurse share Of the in.
ternational polio. force TO rendc: such
league effective"
The duty OF the navy IN the future
guard the country against invasion.
but 20 protect ns well the great mcr-
cant marine nov being built
Sea power viii always remain \
factor OF vast imporsamce in imterna-
tional relations Admiral, badger. de-
olared. The great naval lesson OF IN.
war has been that the nation possess
ing the most powerful navy was able
III few weeks 10 driv" tn. German
keep open her own trade toutes. and
yet. when the war commenced Ger
many possessed the s"cpnri best navy
in the world u proved 20 pe not an bod
enough. The blockade. which sh" was
not able 10 break, Was che greatest
contributing Cause oil her ultimate col
URGES THAT WORK BEGIN
ON TItREE-YEAn PROGRAM
/ Completion of the three gear build
ing program authorized in 1916 and
rinc craft. was recommended by Ad-
niiral badger Work has not yet been
started on six battleships. six battle
cruisers. TWO scout cruisers. nine fleet
submarines. two destroyer tenders and
oEe fleet submarine tender. he said.
Lack OF ships OF this type, nc declared.
would have been fatal 10 the United
States II 1t had been lighting the war
alone
Admiral Badger said that before the
armistite was signed. requiring Ger:
many TO surrender the greater part or
It's navy. ihe general board had rec
commended siN-ycar building pro-
gram 70 include twelve super-Dread-
noughts and sixteen battle cruisers.
but added that Immediate necessities
would be met by the tnrec-yenr build
ing program recommended by the Sec
reIary OF the Navy. This program VIII
add six battle cruisers TO the SIX al
ready authorized, be said. and. at the
same rate OF authorization. would
make a total of nineteen by 1928
Great Britain now has thirteen o, OF
and it Is estimated she viii have nine
teen or twenty by 1928.
Admiral Badger said that. type for
type, American battleships compare
favorably in power with those OF any
other nation. pointing out that the six
battieships soon to be laid down are
designed for displacement of $4,000
tons, OF twenty-thrce knots speed,
main battery of twelve lG-inch guns
and are heavily armorcd. they VIII
be the most powerful vessels In the
world. he said.
Adma hdaser sta'fa aae 1na ,he
1890 three-year program. There are
now s42 either built or being built; he
said and in 1926 there will therefore
be a total or $50. compared with Eng
lands SIG at present.
The submarine program calls for
submarines :.nd AZ mine-iayers," he
said, There are now built. building
or authorized tot, total ,rn Of iSs coast sTn Th
general board estimates that total
Of 294 S-type boats are required and
recommends that 10 be authorized now
building 2ss submarines, of which
about rs are OF large or fleet type"
Admiral badger emphasized the need
for additional mine ,swcepers and pa
troll vessels. and spoke of the develop
ment during the war Of the airnlane
carrier. Fleet engagements will he
preceded in the future by operations in
ihe air, he stated, and the general
board recommends tina, the fleet be
provided with facilities to carry on
such operations.
disposition of the ships surrendered
ference. ns @ ADMIRAL Badger stated, in re-
sponsc to questions at the close of the
meeting as to whether or not he
stroyed. returned or distributed among
III England gets the lions share of
kclicy. of Michigan, Republican, do
YOU still think we should build TO the
point where we would have navy
..Tho necessity OF the United States
Navy being equal to the most power
Inc world by 1925 is as great now as
i, has ever been" replied Tho admiral
This may not hc possible by 1925 il
large numbers TO certain powers, but
VIC should do il ns speedily as possi-
In reply to n question OF Represent
ative Butler whether the general board
had adopted any general policy in re-
Eard 'C iae nra ec Of tho hes1s
mraI Badger said that no policy had
been recommended as yet
An account OF the development and
scope OF activities of German subma-
,ines was given by Admiral BADGER
Ten years ago tho. submarine was not
larger than $50 tons, could cruise less
than 500 miles and was very vulner-
able To-day they are thirty times
larger and can make trips OF 1000
miles and more. They, have destroyed
hundreds OF vessels and have laid mines
I'm sea lanes and In harbors making
constant sweeping operations neces-