Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-09
PEACE TREATY Or
WORLDS BIGGEST
NAVY, SAYS DANIELS

WASHINGTON, March 6.-The
United States must continue its pre-
wa naval building program until it
is determined whether this country
is to be a member Of the League
Of Nations, Secretary Daniels today
told the house naval affairs commit
tee.
If the senate fails to ratify the
join the league, the United States
must Immediately start to build thu
greatest navy in the world, Mr.. Dan
iels declared.
If the treaty is ratified, the huge
naval expenditures can be checked
as only sufficient additional construc-
ton to round out the present pro-
gram will then be necessary, the Sec
rotary said, adding that gradual dis
armament would follow.
with the league in operation, COM
posed at first of all the nations
allied in the world waE and with
provision for the admittance of all
other nations opposed to conquest
and mtlitarism, it would not be neces-
sary to impose on the taxpayers of
America, in view of the present b.
dens, the money necessary for build
ing more capital ships by appropria-
lions in this BILL" Mr.. Daniels said.
Two Naval Programs
He outlined to the committee the
naval building programs, with and
without the League of Nations, and
then, because of the delay the treaty
has encountered, recommended con-
struction during the next fiscal year
in excess Of that proposed by the
general navy board.
This program, which, he said,
should be carried in the appropria-
ton bill now being framed by the
committee, calls for two of the big
gest battleships in the world, one
battle cruiser, six scout cruisers.
twenty light cruisers, eight mtne-lay-
ing cruisers, twenty flotilla leaders,
six fleet submarines, four airplane
carriers, one submarine tender and
one destroyer tender.
If the senate authorizes the United
States to join the league, Mr.. Daniels
said, the proposed construction of all
battleships, battle and scout cruisers
could be abandoned, the number of
light cruisers reduced to ten, the
mine-laying light cruisers to six and
the flotilla leaders to ten.
IF 1T shall turn out that the
United States definitely decides not
to become a party to the proposed
League Of Nations" Mr.. Daniels de-
clared, "I shall feel it my imperative
duty to renew my recommendation
of last year for the authorization by
this congress for another three-year
building program, with such changes
as to types as the lessons the World
war has taught us in the construc-
ton Of fighting ships.
Building Big Battleships
''The present conditions of unrest
make it inadvisable to assume policy
of inactivity while the senate is de-
Gliding our future international rela-
tons. Two battleships authorized
prior to the 1915, are now nearly
completed and we are building under
the three-year program of 1916 ten
battleships more powerful than any
other afloat and six battle cruisers
superior to any foreign vessels of
their class. There are also ten scout
cruisers under construction. Our new
construction, however, as well as our
existing forces are deficient in sew
eral types of vessels, which, during
the World war, were found essential
to effective fleet operations. These
types are in order Of Importance,
the airplane carrier, light scout and
light cruisers, the mine-laying light
cruiser, the flotilla leader, the fleet
submarine and destroyer and sub
marine tenders.
CAT present the United States has
only one airplane carrier to be con-
verted, three old light cruisers, no
flotilla leader and nine fleet sub
marines authorized"
Representative Butler, Of Penn
sylvania, pointed out that the new
British ambassador to the United
States, Sir Auckland Geddes, was
quoted today as saying that Great
Britain would not try te-outstrip the
United States.
Mr.. Daniels replied that he did
not believe it was official but intiA
mated that Great Britain was en-
couraging her colonies to build ma
val vessels.