Evening journal., 1919-01-02
BIGGEST navy
idea APPROVED
Congress Back of President
and Daniels OIL Free
dom of the Seas
VERSAILLES TO BE
DECIDING FACTOR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-'The United
= States will begin at once 10 build the
biggest navy in the world. larger even
than that Of Great Britain, for many
years the mistress OF the seas, unless
the Allied nations al the peace confer
ences az Versailles accept Americas
dictum for the formation OF a league OF
nations, freedom Of the seas, and llml-
tation OF sea and land armaments.
The United States intends that II
peaceable agreements are not made at
Versailles guaranteeing this country
unlimited opportunity for development
OF its foreign commerce, then this coun-
try will build a navy that Will brook
no interference with It's ambitions for
unrestricted world trade
This Is the firm conviction Of men,
bers OF the House and Senate after
listening for three days 10 Secretary Of
the Navy Daniels portrayal Of the
navy's building program for the next
three years.
And Congress Is disposed TO back the
President and Secretary Daniels up In
their plans for a navy that will within
very few years Overshadow that OF
any other nation and give the United
States complete control Of the oceans
OF the world
The members OF the House Naval
Affairs Committee, who have listened
for the last few days to Secretary Dan
iels' outline Of the navy program, do
not believe II is bad faith TO be prepar-
Ing TO build the biggest navy IN the
world while President Wilson Is in Eu-
rope insisting on a limitation Of naval
armaments, especially the Limitation of
England's sea power.
they believe the United States is tax
ing the proper course 10 defend herself !
against any eventuality, and in serving
notice on England and the other Allied |
nations that, II they do not agree TO |
Americas proposal for a League OF Ma
tions and Limitation OF naval powers, |
the United States with It's llmitless
wealth and great array OF shipbulld-
ing yards will build navy that will
overshadow that OF any OF the other
powers and take complete command Of
the seas.
And It is only right that we should
do this said Congressman Fred Brit
ten. a member Of the Naval Affairs Com
mittee. 20 am tired and / know mil
lions OF other Americans are tired of
playing second fiddle to some Other ma
ton In international politics and world
because our navy ranks only
second, third or fourth in bat
tie strength. This war has demonstrat-
ed beyond question that the biggest
navy in the world commands the seas;
Is the only one worth having and that
nation might as well have no navy at
all under the present arrangement as
to have anything but the first navy.
Now II England and the other ma
tlons are not prepared to join a League
OF Nations, arrange for absolute free
dom OF the seas and limitation OF arm
aments, all right. II they want TO con-
tinue building big navies, all right; we ,
viii build one. too, and the biggest IN
The world. We have more money. more
more shipyards and more
men to man our battle fleets than any
Df them. and will in few years have
me first navy and command the seas.
u any nation Is to command the seas
lereafter, u VIII be the United States. =
From conversations l have had with
members Of, the naval committee and !
With numerous Congressman and Sena-
ors, / am convinced that Congress is
prepared to back the President and !
Daniels up. and I have never
Entertained any doubt that the Amerl- /.
ans feel that same way about Il
we are prepared in this country to
inter- upon q great manufacturing plan r
or exportatiop Of our. goods 20 an the 4
Of The world. but we cannot :
END our goods where we please. or :
'rotect our commerce on sea or land. :
2 big navy, unless a special
arrangement is made for Il through the :
ormation OF League OF Nations.
IL has been very CALLING TO me to 4
ur business men who wanted 10 enter
nto the worlds export trade. ana m
ur administration to find that before \
We could export our goods IL was neces- y
ary to get the consent Of soma foreign
mbassy id Washington.
Before we could export shoe poiis,I y
Q spain II was necessary 10 aet sne- \
lal permission from the Spanish am =
'assador here. Before we could send
tinware or other goods 10
denmark, Norway Sweden or snme
lther country consent had 10 he On liz
aimed from the British embassy be-e .
Ind whyY All because some other ns- ii
Ion had control OF the seas and we bsd \
o do its bidding y
It's Time this thing was stopped and I,
nat we had unrestricted right 10 shin r
'ur goods where we pleased. II ne
Niles won't arrange It through form n
ng the League OF Nations az ihe Vsr- Z
ailles Peace. Conference. then we win
'uild the biggest navy in the worIs and q
Issume that right TO- ourselves. 3
our last three-year naval program
$ going along nicely. We can begin a. n
'nce on Secretary Daniels new three a
'ear program and within twelve months
an even add to that so that In fonr G
ears our navy will be the first navy a
n the world
But IL the Allies at the Versailles r,
'eace Conference accept our demand "a, lc
League OF Nations, freedom OF the
eas and limitation OF sea and land p
rmaments it may be unnecessary 10 a,
AIRY out this plan and It can be check
d up quickly without any great ex- n
'ense Of harm being done" s,
H0I.D el