The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-06
NO PEACE UNLESS
u. S. In LEAGUE
Daniels FavorS Navy Equal to
Other Nations, League
or No League.
ONLY TWO COURSES

Washington, March 6.-"League
or no league, | believe the United
States should have as large
navy as any other nation in the
world" said Mr.. Daniels.
do you say that because you
lack confidence in the proposed
leaguew asked Representative
Britten.
II think all men admit that the
delay has detracted from the
moral force of the league" re-
piled the secretary. Possibly
the loss could be made up after
we entered. Certainly, if We do
not enter, many of the smaller
nations will not have the conf
dence in the league they would
have If we were in it,"
There will be no peace in Eu-
rope without the United States
in the league" declared Repre-
sentative Britten.
"That statement is strong argu-
ment for the league of nations" in
terjected Representative Padgett,
democrat. of Tennessee.
Eyes, sir" replied Representative
Britten, for an Americanized league,
not the one brought back to u.s."
representative Kelly declared he
was somewhat disappointed at Sec
retary Daniels recommendation for
extensive naval building in view of
Great Britain's apparent intention to
abandon competitive naval building,
declaring it looked a little like "dou-
bic dealing" on the part of the
United States.
Great 5rltaIn's Navy.
see IN the papers today that the
future British ambassador to the
United States, Sir Auckland Geddes.
says Great Britain will not have a
navy larger than the United States,
Chairman Butler, republican, Pennsyl-
Vania, said
that?-
Il do not know If that is official
Great Britain might not have a larger
Meet. She is encouraging her colonies
TO construct ships, however" Daniels
You say the United States has
the largest navy il we do not go into
the league. How do you explain our
program before the war when we did
not aim to have the largest navy?"
Nhepresentatlves Hicks. republican, OF
Il have learned lot during the
war, | hope. Before the war | thought
the people of large nations would not
permit great war. | was mistaken"
Daniels explained.
During the war our commerce was
thrown around like football by Great
Britain, Representative Britten, Of IL
llnols said. "lf we had large navy
that would have been prevented"
How long will it take to build this
program?" Representative Browning,
republican, of New Jersey, asked.
About four years" Daniels replied.
We are told we cannot complete the
1916 program by that time" Brown
ing continued.
I'VE could start the program this
year. except the large ships, Daniels
said.
Washington, March 6.-Appear-
ing today before the house naval af-
fairs committee, Secretary of the
Navy Daniels declared that our navy
lis weak in the types of ships which
the world war proved were essen
tial in fleet efficiency" and urged the
adoption of the building program for
next year calling for thirty ships.
I'm the unsettled condition of the
world today" he said, "our navy
must be prepared for any emergency.
I'VE have only two courses to pur-
sue; we must have a league of ma
tions by which every nation will help
preserve the peace of the world with
out competitive navy building, or we
must have incomparably the biggest
navy in the world. There is no mid
die ground"
Unless there is a league OF ma
tons soon, or if the United States
finally decides to stand outside the
league, Secretary Daniels said he
would be constrained to recommend
building program calling for the
construction of sixty-nine ships.
Il had hoped" said the secretary,
ito appear today with a final recon-
mendation as to the building pro-
gram for the navy, but as the peace
treaty has not been acted upon there
are uncertainties ih the situation.
IF the covenant had been ratified
our duty would have been plain.
With the league in operation it
would not have been necessary to
impose upon the taxpayers. in view
of the present burdens. the money
necessary for building more capital
ships.
THE building program FOR the next
nscal year, as presented 20 you, is:
"Battleshps. two.
Battle cruisers, one.
scout cruisers. ten.
"Flotilla leaders. five.
Fleet submarines six.
"AiTplane carriers, two.