The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-05-27
ABANDON
BIG 4tIVY
P|H||i GRAM
Secretary IS Recommends
to Ho ommittee to
Me- hange in
Plans.
AMERICAS TWO PATHS
Ono Is to Have Greatest Fleet In the
World and Other is to Join
League Of
Nations.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service
WASHINGTON, May 27.-Aban-
donment of the big navy program
was recommended to the house naval
affairs committee today by the Sec
retary of the Navy Daniels. The
United States should show its faith
in the league of nations covenant by
eliminating the program submitted
to the last congress which would
make the American navy second to
none, Daniels said.
Daniels said he had assurances
from Lloyd-George and other allied
statesmen that they were planning to
follow the lead of the United States
and that ut was the wiser policy not
to enter any large construction pro-
gram until the league of nations
meets"
The secretary's stand today was a
direct reversal of his recommends
,tions last December.
America has only two courses"
Daniels said, "either to build the big
gest navy in the world or we must
have the league of nations"
In asking elimination of the house
program he recommended to the last
congress which would make the
American navy second to none,
Daniels said he had assurances
from Lloyd-George and other allied
statesmen, that they were planning
to follow the lead Of the United
States and that ''it was the wiser
policy not to enter any large con-
struction program until the league of
nations meets"
Daniels urged that the 1916 build
ing program be pushed throuh.
Whether for the completion of the
present three year program COM
posite ship, combining battleship
and cruiser qualities, shall be built,
Daniels said may be decided tomor5
row.
Daniels said the navy officers were
unit on eQuipping the first class
fighting ship with twelve sixteen-inch
guns.
The present three year program
authorizes ten capital ships-four
battleships and six cruisers.
Contracts for twoTof the battle
ships have been awarded and the
other will be let soon, Daniels said.
Four of the cruisers have been con-
tracted for and the remaining two
will be built at the Philadelphia navy
ward. In answer to questions Of com
mittee men, Daniels said the navy
plans to eliminate all cost plus work
from it's construction and do every
thing on contract basis.
Large naval expenditures will not
be necessary under the league OF
nations, according to the belief of
many European statesmen, particu-
u, py;f f{cJ, no al OF
Great Britain has suspended all
construction work looking toward in
creasing her navy Plans Of, the Brit
ish were to build three more large
composite warships in the near
future, but Daniels said these are all
waiting until peace questions are
settled.
Speaking of naval plans of other
Europeans besides the British,
Daniels said the French are planning
to build only few small ships and
the Italians desire only few small
craft for the Mediterranean.
America having initiated the
league of nations covenant and the
new era" Daniels said, 1--WE ought to
show our faith and confidence in this
great document which is endorsed by
twenty nations and four-ifths of the
world by not at this time authorizing
any large increases in naval construc
tion.
Therefore I recommend the eliInin-
alton Of the program l urged at the
last congress. We shall still l.Age the
regular three year program.
"Since l asked for the large increas-
es the covenant has been drafted and
agreed to and I have the utmost con
fidence in it. 1t is the most momen-
tous document in two thousand years
OF the world history and with its aims
' lContinued on page 81