The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-12-13
AMERICAN NAVY
IN THE PACIFIC
Secretary Daniels Says the Time viii
Never Come When We Can Afford
to Have a Weak Fleet There

program, involving the construction
of SO vessels, if the United States
does not enter the league of nations
or a similar world organization, is
given by Secretary Daniels in his an
Rual report to President Wilson.
'If the United States is not to enter
into any agreement with the other
powers of the earth, which are now
bound together in the league of ma
ticns," says the naval secretary, 81
feel compelled to approve the recon-
mendation of the general board that
Congress authorize another three-year
program to be begun as soon as the
capital ships now under construction
are launched"
The three-year program recon-
mended by the general board to be un-
der way by 1924 includes the construc-
ton of three battleships, one battle
cruiser, 80 light cruisers, eight gun
boats, Is destroyer leaders, II mine
laying submarines, six cruiser subma-
rlnes, four airpiane carriers, three de-
stroyer tenders and three submarine
tenders.
"If the ynited States takes its
stand with other countries in an or
ganization to prevent war and promote
peace" Mr.. Daniels says, "our present
navy, with the addition of some spe-
cial types, will be adequate for our de-
tense and the prevention of aggres-
sion."
No specific recommendations for
appropriations for new construction
during the netx fiscal year are in
cluded in the secretary's report, but
his estimate of the cost of maintain
| ing the naval establishment for the
coming year is $679, 9,515,931 exclusive
of any sums Congress may add for
new building. This is S240,OO0,000
more than was appropriated for the
present fiscal year, but Mr.. Daniels
says the sum els not really an in
crease" but is necessary to carry on
the construction of ships already au-
thorized and the completion of shore
establishments already begun by di-
rection of Congress-"
The most pressing problem con-
fronting the nation with regard to the
national defense, the naval secretary
CONTINUES, is the immediate necessity
for increasing the naval shore estab-
lishment facilities on the Pacific coast.
"The day will never come" Mr..
Daniels says, "when a powerful feet
viii not be based in the Pacific and it
is essential that ample provision be
made not only for the Pacific fleet, but
for the whole American feet in it's
stated periods of tactical exercises on
the west coast"
Among the new Pacific coast pro-
jects now under consideration for
which Congress has been or will be
asked to provide funds are deepwa-
ter docking and repair base, a subma-
rine base and other development at
San Francisco; an aviation base at
Sand Point, King county, Washington;
a submarine, destroyer and aviation
base at Port Angeles, Washington; a
submarine base at Eos Angeles; sub
marine and destroyer base at Astoria,
Oregon, and very extensive develop
ment of harbor and repair facilities
at Hawaii. In all. the report declared,
projects that ultimately viii reach a
cost of about $3.50, 900, 900 are urgent
~ NEEDED for the Pacific coast proper.
Characterizing Hawaii as the
crossroads and key to the Pacific,
Mr.. Daniels recommends the creation
there of aeet-operating base capable
of accommodating the entire Ameri-
can navy with all auxiliaries. ,Facili-
ties for a fleet of thousand vessels
could be developed at Hawaii, the re.
port asserts, adding that "the strate
gle location of Hawaii is realized, it:
possibilities have been carefully stud
led and set forth by naval experts anC
its development on broad scale as /;
feet operating base cannot be to,
lstrongly recommended"
Despite sporadic criticism" In thi
country and abroad of the completion
! of capital ships authorized before tn
J war, the battleship remains the back
! lbone of the feet, Secretary Daniel
. declares. The war proved that tn
time has not come for the abandon
Z iment of capital ships, he says, and i
? support of his declaration he point
out that recent British building pro
J grams have included funds for dread
i naughts and battle cruisers and tina
Japan "has layed down FIVE capita
ships since the armistice and it is un
{ lderstood that eight others are project
= led for the near future"
3I A strong plea that all marine &C
y itivities of the government be consol
i Iiiated in the navy in the interests 0
I ECONOMY and efficiency is made by tn
Z naval secretary. He declares tha
~ lA6 - N~,,z