The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-31
U. s. MUST BUILD THE GREATEST NAVY IF WORLD, IS VIEW O|
 SECRETARY DANIELS
Tells House Naval Commit tee Unless Tribunal Is Es- tablished Regulating,
 America Must Have
 the Greatest Navy
By Associated Press

By Associated Press
 Washinton, December 30. Unless a league of nations or other tribunal that will make certain the limitation of inter national armament is estab- lished, the United States must build the greatest navy in the world, Secretary Daniels today told the House naval commit tee.
 Tt is my firm conviction.' declared the secretary, that if the conference at Versailles does not result in general agreement to put an end to naval build ing on the part of all the nations. then the United 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 programme, adding 10 dreadnaughts. six battle cruisers, 10 scout cruisers and 13o 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 recommendations for the 1920 naval bill which the committee is con- sIdering.
 PRESIDENT BACKS POLICY
 I.~ l-
 Icy to make us the first naval power
 in the worldf' asked Representa-
 tive Kelley of Michigan.
 "Yes, If competitive building fs
 to continue" said Mir. Daniels. "Wc
 are now easily the second naval
 power. but this programme will not
 make us the first"
 The naval secretary said that if a league of nations is established Amer ica must provide large part of a world police force necessary to enforce tho leagues decrees. He added, however. that with such a league formed 1t would not be necessary to carry on the full legislation empowering the Pres ident to stop construction at his dis cretion If an international agreement should make limitation of armament a certainty.
 T would like to let the world know that we are tremendously interested in the Presidents proposition for reduce ton of armament" declared the secre- tary.
 In reducing from $2oo. .oOo, ,ooo to $55.- 000.000 the amount asked for work on the new building programme dur- ing the year beginning next July Sec retary Daniels said that some furthef construction was necessary, because we want some more modern ships iu our police force"
 WORLDS NAVAL STRENGTH
 MT. Daniels gave the committee a re- port showing the relative strength of the navies of the leading nations of the world. Figures for the Japanese navy were not available. 1t was said.
 Great Britain has in operation or build ing, 61 battleships, 130 bRttleship cruis- ers 31 heavy cruisers. i'll light cruisers. 216 patrol and gunboats. 409 destroyers 219 submarines, 9S torpedo boats. g flo- tilla leaders. 220 airships and S97 miscel- laneous ships.
 The United States. with the second largest navy in the world has built, or projected, 30 battleships. six battle cruis- CTS, eight armored cruisers, 40 light cruis- CTS 342 destroyers, 1S1 submarines. 15 coast torpedo vessels, 17 torpedo boats and 569 other vessels.
 France has 29 battleships 21 cruisers eight light cruisers. 92 destroyers, 12i torpedo boats. 70 submarines, 8 airships and 1S3 other craft.
 Italy has IS battleships. seven cruisers, 10 light cruisers, five monitors. Is flotilla leaders, A destroyers, S3 torpedo boats, 85 submarines, 20 airships and 442 miscel- laneous vessels
 Russia before quitting the war had IS four battle cruisers, 12 heavy and nine light cruisers, 12s destroyers, 5+ submarines, 13 torpedo boats. IA airships and 90 miscellaneous vessels.
 Before the armistice was signed Ger many had 47 battleships, six battle crtfiSL CTS. 51 other cruisers. 223 destroyers. IFS torpedo boats. 243 submarines and b54 vessels.
 SUBMITS NEW ESTIMATES
 Besides the reduction for the new building programme the secretary sub- mitted new estimates reducing the to- tai asked for the navy during ths next year to 1895, 1903 ,000. The original estimates submitted 10 Congress. drawn while the war was in progress totalled $2.664, BOT 900. Pay of ths navy under the new estimates would amount to s211 900. 900, the secretary recommending no permanent increase in personnel. but asking for tenn porary increase to 250,000 men until after the peace conference, when i definite policy as to the permanent sS- tablishment can be framed. A huge increase in personnel was contem- plated if the war had continued. the estimates originally calling for $5Ty.- 94s.000.
 The principal reductions included the elimination of the following Items: New batteries. $1f5.0O0.o00, torpedoes and appliances. $125.o00.0 900. and re- serve ordnance supplies, $77.609.4t2. Reductions were made in all items re- maining in the bill. the most imppr tant being ordnance, $21.044.000; pro- visions. $144.55300o; naval emergency fund, s115.145.000 medical department. $3.750,000. repairs. $37, 7,500, 900: epgi- neering, S35.000.00O.
 The principal amounts recommended include aviation, ss36 100000, ordnance. $5s. .955, ,o0o provisions. $57.7s0, ,00u: emergency fund $61.s55.000; medical department. ss,75o.ooo; repairs. to ships. $S7.5oo.o0 900 and engineering. $35.- 000. .00o
 In urging the adoption by Congress of the new three-year building programme. Secretary Daniels said the programme was "conservative.' He also said that of big ships. delayed dur ing the war so that small craft to fight submarines could be built. will be pushed as rapidly as possible.
 MUST CONSIDER OBLIGATIONS
 ''It is our duty to consider the obr peace conference now occupied at Yer sailles completes it's work constructively and satisfactorily as we all hope it will do," said Mir. Daniels. -Let us assume that this conference will give birth to some plan looking toward a concert Of tho