Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-12-16

lishments already begun by direction
of congress-"
The most pressing problem con-
fronting the nation with regard to the
national defense. the. naval secretary
continues. Is the Immediate necessity
ltshment facilities on the Pacific coast.
"The day will never come" MI.
Daniels says, when q powerful fleet
will not be based in the Pacific and It
is essential that ample provision q
made mo- only for the Pacific feet
but for the whole American fleet in
its stated periods Of tactical exercises
on the west coast" .
Pacific Projects. >. /
! Among the new Pacific coast
projects now under consideration for
which congress mas been or will be,
asked to provide funds are a deep
submarine base and other Develop
ments atNSan Francisco; an aviation
base az Sand Point, King county,
Washington a submarine, destroyer
and aviation base at Port Angeles,
Washington a submarine base at Los
Angeles. a submarine and destroyer
base at Astoria, Oregon, and a very
extensive development Of harbor and
repair facilities at Hawaii. In all, the
report declared, projects that ulti-
mately will reach a cost of about
the Pacific coast proper.
Characterizing Hawaii as the
Crossroads and key to the Pacific
Mr.. Daniels recommends the creation
there of q Incorporating base capa-
BILE of accommodating the entire
American navy with all auxiliaries.
Facilities for a fleet of a thousand
vessels could be developed at Hawaii,
the report asserts, adding that 1.-THE
strategic location of Hawaii is real
lied. it's possibilities have been care
fully studied and set forth by naval
experts and it's development on q
broad scale.a a fleet operating base
annot be too strongly recommends
ed"
Despite sporadic criticism" in this
country and abroad of the completion
of capital ships authorized before the
war, the battleship remains the
backbone" of the fleet, Secretary
Daniels declares. The war proved
that. the time has not come for the
I abandonment Of capital ships he
Il says, and in support of his declaration
he points out that recent British
building programs nave included
funds for dreadnaughts and battle
cruisers and that Japan has layed
down v capital ships since the ar
smistice and it is understood that eight
others are projected for the near fu-
ture.'
A strong plea that all. marine ac-
tivitfes of the government be CONSOLE
dated in the nav in the interests of
economy and efficiency is made by the
naval secretary. He declares that
America should have but one navy
md fhof of rrocorf hove no 1yo ~; ~, q
little navies" under various govern
ment departments whose activities
could be far more advantageously di-
rected under a single control. Z
Has go Ships.
a total Of 979 vessels, Mr.. Daniels
points out, while the val department
maintains a feet of 73O craft, exclu-
sive Of 1,245 other vessels of various
types used in harbor work; the treas
ury 101 ships; the department Of
commerce IA; the shipping board H.
$40 and miscellaneous divisions more
than 200 others.
Amalgamation with the navy toftthe
coast guard and the lighthouse and
life-saving services is particularly
urged, by Mr.. Daniels and he also
says sit would be to the advantage of
the army as well as. the navy if all
United States transports We're manned
by the navy in time Of a as well
as war;"
"In other words" says Mr.. Daniels,
there should be but one marine de-
partment of the government and it's
craft af16at should beDperated by the
navy department. This cannot be
considered a radical departure or ex-
PERTINENT, as its worth and practical