New-York tribune., 1919-12-10
Fleet Second
10 None Urged
BY Navy Board
Two Battleships, Battle
Cruiser, 10 Scout Cruis-
ers, 5 Destroyer Leaders,
6 Submarines, Is Program

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-Recommen-
dations of the navy general board for
the building program of 1921 include
two battleships, one battle-c cruiser, ten
scout cruisers, five destroyer flotilla
leaders and six sub larines.
"The navy Of the United States ulti-
mately should be equal to the most
powerful maintained by any other ma
tion of the world" not later than 1925,
the report adds.
The statement of policy relative to
the ultimate strength of the navy and
the time when it should be achieved is
reiteratlon of the boards position
as carried in its report to Secretary
Daniels e N 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 it was attached to that
document as it went to the President.
Mr.. Daniels did not himself recommend
any building program, withholding this
for later presentation.
Navy Second to None" Urged
In it's recommendations made public
to-day at the department, the general
board urged a policy OF naval expansion
that would guarantee protection Of
coast lines and the rapidly expanding
merchant marine against any naval
power in the world. Such protection,
the board declared, could be had only
by increasing American sea power to q
point where it was SECOND to none"
and maintaining IL al that level.
The board further asserted that, the
war having demonstrated that 30 sess-
ION of fleet powerful enough TO pro
tect its seaDorne commerce is vital
to any nation in time OF hostilities, the
maintenance of such a navy BY the
United States would be "a great pre-
ventlve of war, for no nation would
lightly provoke hostilties when her
own commerce would thereby be i'm
periled." The necessary future
strength of the American navy. there
fore, must depend, the board said,
upon the naval strength of the pow
ers in position to challenge our
legitimate commercial expansio ion upon
the high seas"
Lesson Taught by War
Declaring the greatest naval lesson
of the war was the immense advantage
OF uniformity in speed and armament
of first line ships, the board asserted
~ ALREADY was evident that flrSt line
ships cf the American navy must have
heavier armament than the 12-inch
guns of the nrst dreadnoughts. These
ships, the board said, were rapidly as
suming the same relationship to the
navys superdreadno lghts that the
older battleships bear to the first
dreadnoughts themselves. with the
time approaching when they can no
longer De considered as effective first
line ships.
The German fleet, the board declared
IN this connection, was handicapped
and not strengthened b the presence
of re-dreadnoughts of slower speed
and lighter armament in the battle OF
Jutland because they reduced the ma
neuvering and fighting powers Of the
entire force"
Emphasizing the deficiency of the
American navy in scout-crui isers. the
board, recommending the construction
of ten of these ships, cited the value
of such craft to the British feet dur
ing the war and declared them % be
essential to ANY we'll balanced navy"
Recommending construction of five
| ships of the super destroyer type, the
| board emphasized the usefulness OF
such ships in connection with destroye,
operations.
For development and construction o.
aircraft during the year the boarc
recommended an appropriation of s27,.
100000 with s6,ooo.ooo. to be used TO,
experimental co3atruction.