The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-23
U. 5. RANKS SECOND
AMONG SEA POWERS
Great Britain Still a Long
Way in Lead, Navy
Figures Show.
FLEETS OF SMALL CRAFT
Administration Eager to Push
Naval Plans Before Arma-
ment Ban Is Placed.
Specio. DsspateA TO Tvs sux

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22-The ban On
news OF the progress the navy has mad.
In building flghting ships during the war
was lifted to-day. Rear Admiral David
Taylor. chief Of the bureau OF construc.
ton and repair Of the Navy Department,
disclosed in detail to the House Naval
Affairs Committee just where the Amer.
can Navy stands to-day In relation to
the other navies Of the world and the
present status of the building pro.
gramme. Instead of being in fourth
place tho United States now stands
second in strength among the worlds
sea Powers, but In still a long way be-
hind Great Britain.
The great acquisition of ships by the
American Navy has not been in super
dreadnoughts and battle cruisers--the
backbone of the navy--but In destroy
ers and smaller nghting vessels and
auxiliary ships such as mine sweepers.
Admiral Taylor confirmed the statement
that not one Of the sixteen capital ships
authorized in the three year building
programme has yet been completed, al
though the idaho 10 almost ready for
commissioning and the Tennessee and
California. all superdreadnoushts. arc
nearing completion. The battle cruisers
are not yet under construction. but work
on them Is about to begin, the commit
tee was informed.
Scores of Destroyers.
A hundred destroyers have been buff.
the Admiral said. and 240 others will be
completed within two years About so
submarine chssers have been put In
commission, but they win be taken out
Of active service or disposed Of to other
nations as fast as possible. The Ford
ola MI hs
kept. the Admiral said. He defended
their usefulness to the navy in tho
future for gunboat duty and duty as
rcouts in waters where vessels OF deeper
draught could not venture.
Comparison with the British Nav
crept into the hearing again, Admtrsl
Taylor pointing out TO the committee
that England had In the neighborhoo'
Of 400 destroyers. possibly more, bu.
that the American plans contemplate
reaching this figure within a REASONABLY
short time.
At the time the actual fighting with
Germany was halted by the arn!st!ce
Admiral Taylor declared. the American
Navy. including many converted vessels
which will soon be discarded and turned
into other pursuits, numbered about one
thousand fighting vessels. The navy had
so many airplanes during the last few
months OF the war that some OF them
had to be stored away. This condition
enabled the Navy Department to cancel
all contracts for flying machines the mo
ment the armistice was signed.
At ODDS Over Policy.
The committee and the Secretary q
the Navy are still at logserheads on III
question OF policy. however. The CON
mittee was given to understand to-day
that the Secretary agrees with the Re.
publican attitude that the American
Navy should equal that OF Great Britain.
not with any idea that there ever will be
clash between the two nations, but o.
account OF the IDENTICAL interests which
the United States must now guard AM
because Of her place among the nations
However. the Secretary cannot unde
stand the Republican demand that d
action OF the peace conference =,
awaited before starting on any amb
tious building programme, The poss
bility that the peace conference M
limit agrlaments by forb!dding any hGht-
ing ships TO any nation except tho
built. building and authorized. II W.
learned. IL ut the bottom OF the des:
OF the Administration 10 have Coust,,
go ahead with the navel programme ,,
gordless 81 the possible action OF p .
peace conference