Evening star., 1920-03-06
SECRETARY DANIELS
TO URGE BIG NAVY
# TREATY FAILS
Building Program for Next
Fiscal Year Awaits Senate
Action, He States.

Secretary Daniels told the House
naval committee today he would rec
ommend naval building program for
the next fiscal year larger than that
proposed by the general board "if the
peace treaty is not ratified at this
session Of Congress"
Withholding final recommendation,
however, the Secretary added that II
this country in the end rejected mem
bership in the league OF nations. he
would feel impel1ed to renew his rec
omm endation for another three-year
program Of construction.
Reiterating his statement of last
year that I'VE must have q league of
help preserve the peace OF the world
without competitive naval building or
we must have incomparably the big
gest navy in the world" Mr.. Daniels
declared there was no middle
ground"
'I had hoped to appear before the
committee today" the Secretary con-
tinued. with a final recommendation
as to a building program, but. as the
Senate has not yet acted upon the
peace treaty there are uncertainties
in the situation. If the covenant had
been ratified our duty would have
been plain. With the league in opera
tion, composed at frst Of all the ma
tions allied or associated in the world
war and with provision for admit
tance Of all other nations opposed to
conquest and militarIsm, IT would not
be necessary to impose on the tax
payers of America the assessments
necessary for building more capital
ships"
His Tentative Program.
The program which the Secretary
recommended be authorized in event
tho treaty. n pot raf{0ad auraad with
the general boards proposal as to
capital ships-two battleships and one
battle cruiser-but added to that pro-
posal twenty light cruisers and four
teen fotilla leaders or superdestroN-
ers. No light cruisers and only six
superdestroyers were recommended by
the board.
1t had been his intention. il the
peace treaty were ratified, with the
possibility Of armaments being cur
tailed and regulated" the Secretary
declared. to recommend definitely only
such a "moderate" building program
as was necessary to round out the
fleet" No capital ships would have
been included in this program. he
added. but in the unsettled" condi-
ton Of the world today, he declared.
the American navy must be prepared
for any emergency.
"The question for you to decide. the
Secretary told the committee. rs
whether the United States in future
building shall undertake simply to
round out its navy by building units
of types in which we are now short
or shall embark on further expan-
sion in addition"
Emphasixes Fleets Deficiency.
Secretary Daniels emphasized the
fleets deficiency in light cruisers ana
other secondary craft as demonstrated
by war lessons. The present battle,
ship strength. he pointed out. would
soon be increased by tho ten oreaa,
than any battleships ahoat,' In addi-
tion to the six battle cruisers under
construction, necessitating more aux
Destroyers and other anti-submarine
craft construction during the war.
Mr. Daniels said, had taxed facilities
and prevented balanced additions 70
the fleet, while Great Britain naa
been able to carry out well balahceo
program He pointed out that tne
British navy had increased lts nehl
cruisers to seventy-six, against whlcn
the American Navy has only three' Gil
In addition to capital ships, the Sec.
retary's contingent program lhciuueu
six scout cruisers, eight mine-laylng
cruisers. six fleet submarines. iour W,
airplane carriers and other au4HlarS
Geddes Quoted ON BritisA Navy.
Chairman Butler said Sir Auckland
Geddes, new British ambassador 70
| the United States. had been quoted as
saying that the British -; navy Ivy 1ym,tad W1nld
States. but Mr.. Daniels said Great
Britain was "encouraging its colonies
! to build naval vessels"
Mr.. Daniels insisted that he would
urge construction Of much larger
fleet 80 long as the status quo re-
mains"
"In other words. you want us to add
about $1s5.o0O,0oO to the naval appro-
priation bill this year" said Repre-
sentative Kelly. republican.
TT would not al! be needed this
year." replied the Secretary. Some
could be appropriated next year"
Replying to suggestions of Chair
man Butler that the United States
need not fear any other nation on
the sea so long ''as an agreement with
Great Britain continued" tho naval
| secretary said he believed only q
| league Of nations. with a force strong
| enough to enforce its edicts. could in
sure safety for the United States.