Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-01
LIMIT ALL WAR
SHIPS OR BUILD
Up GREAT POWER
Secretary Daniels Tells Com
mittee President Agrees
With This View of Amer
iCa's Ocean Program.

Washington, Dec. 3l.-Unless a
league of nations or other tribunal
that will make certain the limitation
of international armament is estab-
lished, the United States must build
the greatest navy in the world, Sec
rotary Danields today told the house
naval committee.
at is my firm conviction" de-
clared the secretary, that if the con-
ference at Versailles does not re-
suit in a general agreement to put
an end to naval building 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 ncomparably
the greatest navy in the world"
Wilson Views Same.
With the completion of the pro-
posed new three-year building pro-
gram, adding ten dreadnaughts. six
battle cruisers. ten scout cruisers
and 1870 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
considering.
docs the president back the pol
icy to make us the first naval power
in the world?" asked Representative
Kelly of Michigan.
eyes, if competitive building is to
continue" sad Mr.. Daniels.
1--WE are now easily the second
naval power, but this program will
not make us the first"
The naval secretary said that If
league Of nations is established
America must provide a large part
of world police force necessary to
enforce the leagues DEGREES.
Asks Power to Stop Work.
He added. however, that with
such league formed, it would not
be necessary to carry out the full
construction program and asked the
committee to include in the bill
legislation empowering the president
to stop construction at his discre-
ton if an international agreement
should make limitation of armament
certainty.
81 would like to let the world
know that we are tremendously in
terested in the presidents PROPOSE
ton for reduction of armament" de-
clared the secretary.
In reducing from $200,000,000 to
$55,0QQ,000 the amount asked for
work on the new building program
during the year beginning next July,
Secretary Daniels said that some
further construction was necessary
because we want some more mod
ern ships in our police force"
Mr.. Daniels gave the committee
a report showing the relative
strengths of the navies of the lead
ing nations of thew orld. Figures
for the Japanese navy were not
available, it was SAID.
u. S. Second Power.
Great Britain has in operation or
building of battleships. 10 battle
cruisers, 81 heavy cruisers, III light
cruisers, 2l6 patrol and gunboats
400 destroyers, PIG submarines. 9e
torpedo boats, 81 flotilla leaders
220 airships and S97 miscellaneous
ships.
The United States, with the sec.
ond largest navy in the world. has
built or projected 80 battleships, {
battle cruisers, s armored cruisers
40 light cruisers, 342 destroyers
1871 submarines, Is coast torpedo
vessels, II torpedo boats and SOS
other vessels.
France has % battleships, 81
cruisers, 8 light cruisers, 90 de.
stroyers, III torpedo boats, Il
submarines, SO airships and IS;
other craft.
Italy has Is battleships, cruisers
10 light cruisers. monitors, l.;
flotilla leaders, 81 destroyers, g.
torpedo boats, IS submarines. 80 air.
ships and 442 miscellaneous vessels
Russia before quitting the war
had 10 battleships, 4 battle cruisers
IL heavy and 9 light cruisers, l2s
destroyers, 81 submarines, IS tor.
pedo boats, ID airships and 90 mis-.