Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-09

Washington, Dec 9.-With story O
brilliant achievements of the American
NAVY in the war, Secretary Daniels
couples, in his annual report, Just made
public today. an urgent recommendation
for continued naval expansion to meet
the demands of peace for national and
international work on the sea.
Though nearly all of l44 printed pages
the Secretary tells in brief phrases of the
navv's part In the war. OF the doing of the
seemingly impossible through teamwork
He speaks of the mighty accomplish
ment of transporting two million men to
France. without the loss of an eastbound
troop ship through enemy action, and he
devotes a graphic chapter to the Marine
Brigade. which rs all the world knows
blocked the last Prussian advance on
Paris, and started the German retreat
that ended with the war.
WILSON FOR SMALLER ARMAMENTs.
This reference to the future concludes
the report
The dav is not far distant when the
world will witness an end of competitive
building between nations OF mighty
weapons of war. In the peace treaty there
will undoubtedly be incorporated Presi-
dent Wilson proposal for reduction Of
armament TO the lowest point consistent
with domestic safety.
''Navies will still be needed as an inter
national police force, To compel ccmpli-
ancc with the decree of an international
tribunal which will be set up 10 decide
differences between nations. Naval YES
sells will have large peace tasks of survey
and discovery and protection IN addition
TO police duty of an international as we'll
as Of national character.
"Inasmuch as the United States is the
richest Of the great nations and has suf-
fered less in war II an any Of the allied
powers, II will devolvc upon this country
10 make contribution To the navy 10 pre-
serve the peace Of the world commensurate
with its wealth, its commerce. its growing
and expanding merchant marine, and It's
leadership in the council of free people.
II Is therefore, our duty now not, indeed.
to enter upon any new and ambitious
naval program but to 90 forward steadily
upon the lines OF naval increase tO which
the country committed itself BY the
adoption three wears ago Of the first far
reaching constructive naval program IN
the history Of the Republic.
URGES THREE YEARS PROGRAM
II have recommended to this Congress
thc adoption Of another threc-ycar pro-
gram, substantially like tho one authorIZ-
cd in 1915 But the victory OF the Allies
and the [ nited States, should and will
sincerely trust, within few years, make it
no longer necessary for any nation under
whip and spur 10 burden its taxpayers -
undertake 20 build. In competitive con-
struction, bigger fighting ships and more OF
them than any other nation can construct.
MIR Daniels shows that the new $780,
O0, 900, three-year building program he
has proposed will provide I56 additional
naval ships. ten Of them dreadnaughts and
SIX battlecrtnsers, and the Others to be IN
such distribution OF approved types as the
department may deem best.
READY FOR CALL TO WAR.
Taking up his story Of the navy and the
war, the secretary declares the service was
ready from stem 10 stern when the
United States entered the conflict From
the day when the first three-ycar program
was adopted in 1916 be adds. Congress
has given everything that could be desired
to insure the effectiveness OF the naval
arm.
The report shows that Vice Admiral
sims, who was on his way 10 London as
head Of the American naval establish
ment II the war zones even before war
was declared, Is soon to be named full
admiral by the President, III recognition Of
his services, the high character Of which
the secretary says, it IS yet too early to
give proper place The sending Of Ad-
miral Sims. was the first step In d pro-
gram Of which the secretary says:
THE outstanding accomplishment Of
the navy abroad in this war. oustside of
rigorous and valorous service in the
danger zone, has been the character and
degree Of cooperation and practical
consolidation for the time being Of our
service with those services with which we
have been associated. The navy, be-
ginning with the arrival of the first ship
abroad, has stood out for unity of com
Inand. even though this IN some instances
involved sacrificing temporarily some
thing Of our identity as an independent
service. This has not been an easy task
l. Is believed to be safe statement. that