Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-12-10
j. 6. NEEDS NAVY
SECOND To NONE
IN WHOLE WORLD
Would Reach Equality With
Greatest Sea Power BY Year
1925; Boards Recommend
alton.
ICY SosHrre JousHA, SPECIAL esAsso w,Rtl


Washington, Dec. 9.-Two battle
ships, one battle cruiser, twelve scout
cruisers, five submarine "flotilla lead
ers" and six submarines are recon-
melded by the navy general board in
report made public today in the
program to make the navy of the
United States "equal to the most
powerful maintained by any other ma
ton in the world" not later than
1925.
The statement of policy as to the
time when 1t should be achieved is a
reiteration OF the boards position as
carried in its report to Secretary
Daniels each year since 1915.
Contrary to his custom for the last
few years. Mr.. Daniels did not make
public the boards recommendations
when his own annual report was re-
leased, although ii was attached TO
that document as it went to the presi-
dent. Mr.. Daniels did not himself
recommend any building program,
Withholding this for later presenta-
ton.
In its recommendation the general
board urged a policy of naval expan-
sion that will guarantee protection Of
coast lines and the rapidly expanding
merchant marine against any naval
power i'm the world. Such protection
the board declared, can be had only
ny increasing American sea power to
n point where it is second to none"
and maintaining 1t at that level
Would BE War Preventive.
The board further asserted that the
war having demonstrated that pos
session of a fleet powerful enough to
protect its commerce Is vital to any
nation in time of hostilities, the main
tenance of such a navy by the United
States would be a great preventive of
war, for no nation would lightly pro-
yoke hostillties when her own com
merce would thereby be imperiled." I"
The necessary future strength OF the
American navy. therefore, must de-
pend, the board said, upon the naval
strength of the powers in a position
to challenge our legitimate CONNER
cial expansion upon the high seas"
Declaring the greatest naval lesson
IF the war was the immense advant-
age of uniformity in speed and arma-
ment of first line ships, the board as
serted II already was evident that first
inc ships of the American navy must
have heavier armament than the 12-
inch guns of the first dreadnaughts
These ships, the board said, were rap
idly assuming the same relationship
TO the nayy's uperdreadnaughts that
the older hattleships bear to the first
freadnaughts themselves, with the
time approaching when they can no
longer be considered as effective first
line ships. The German fleet the
board declared in this connection, was
handicapped and not strengthened by
the presence of pre-dreadnaughts Of
slower speed and lighter armament in
the battle of Jutland. because they
reduce the maneuvering and fight
ing powers of the entire force"
Needs Scout Cruisers.
Emphasizing the deficiency Of the
American navy in scout cruisers, the
board, recommending the construction
of ten of these ships, cited the value
of such craft to the British fleet dur
ing the war and declared them to be
essential to "any well balanced navy"
Recommending construction of five
ships of the er-destroyer type, the
board emphasized the usefulness Of
such ships in connection with destroy
er operations. AS a means of apply
ing and developing the lessons of the
war in submarine construction. the
board recommended construction of
six types of pilot submarine rather
than large building program in pres
ent types. One destroyer and one sub
marine tender completed the pro-
gram.
For development and construction
of aircraft during the year the board
recommended an appropriation of
S27, 600 with 100000 to be used
for experimental construction.