Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-03-10
Buy More Ships or Join League
Says Secretary Daniels.

Buy More Ships or Join League
Says Secretary Daniels.
Washington, March 6.-Failure of
the senate to ratify the peace treaty
at this session would mean eXpendi-
ture of S555, 100000 during the next
three or four years to increase the
fighting strength of the United
States navy, Secretary Daniels today
told the house naval affairs commit
tee, in outlining the governments
policy on naval construction.
Because of the delay to the treaty,
Daniels today recommended that SO
vessels, including several large fight
ing ships, be authorized in addition
to the three-year program of 1916,
which has only been about one-third
completed.
At the same time he declared that
if the senate definitely decided the
United States shall not be MEM
Der of the league of nations, the ma
tion must enter upon huge con-
struction program that will make our
navy "incomparably" the greatest in
all the world.
The program Daniels recommend
ed today calls for an additional ex-
penditure for naval construction of
S195, 100000. This, in addition to an
estimated expenditure of S360,000,-
900, is necessary to complete the
three-year building program of 1916.
Present plans would call for the COM
pletion of this enlarged program by
1924.
Daniels made it plain that if the
S United States entered the league Of
nations, he would make large reduc-
tions in the proposed expenditures
and ask only that the present pro-
gram be rounded out by the addition
of some auxiliary craft found essen
tial during the war; About 3S small
craft, without any capital ships,
would be sufficient under these cir
,cumstances, Daniels said.
4 Present indications are that the
committee will not agree to the in
crease asked by Daniels. BY one
member his recommendation was
called "purely academic"
Daniels point that joining the
league will reduce naval expendi-
lures and the burdens on the tax
payers probably will be answered by
the committee making appropriations
only for the continuance of the
three-year building program, Chair
man Butler, of Pennsylvania, said.
Previous plans were made to COM
plete this program at the. estimated
cost of sa6O,OOO,ooO in two years,
but it is probable, he said, because
of the need for reducing expendi-
lures, that it VIII not be spread over
:. three years and thus not be COM
pleted until 1924. Two of the most
powerful dreadnaughts of the world
are nearing completion under this
program and it calls fos ten more big
battleships and six battle cruisers of
the latest type.
Questions of the committee men
today indicated that they believed
Great Britain is desirous of obtain
ing a ''gentlemen's agreement" with
the United States to, limit naval
armament, regardless of whether the
league of nations is success. The
statement credited to Sir Auckland
Geddes, newly appointed ambassador
to the United States, that England
does not desire to outstrip this coun-
ry in naval construction was referr-
ed to. The belief was expressed by
committee men that England finds
itself unable to finance any large pro
gram of naval extension.
Three years of intensive construc-
tion by the United States would give
this country At first and second line
ships as compared with go of Great
Britain, Butler said.
Secretary Daniels opposed any
agreement of the sort proposed, de-
claring that it would lead to the for
nation of another combination of
powers with the return of the bal
ance of power and inevitably lead to