The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-12-16
DANIELS URGES
SHORE BASES FOR
navy ON PACIFIC
IN Report, He Says Present
Defense O. K. e q. S. En-
tiers League-Raps Hazing
Defends Marines in Haiti.

annual report has just beer made
public here, is the provision for ade-
quate shore bases for the navy on h
Pacific coast.
1.-THE day will never come when a
powerful fleet will not be based in the
Pacific" says the secretary.
Commenting on the recent inspec-
ton trip of the congressional joint
committee, which visited the Pacifie
coast, Secretary Daniels says he ex-
poets they will place definitely be-
fore congress a comprehensive pro-
gram of naval base constructor IN
consonance with the high strategic
Importance of this territory"
Would Fortify Islands.
Hawaii, the cross roads Of the
Pacific" he declares, lis of such
strategic Importance and offers such
possibilities of development that naval
authorities agree that there should
be created there a Incorporating
base extensive enough to
date the entire fleet with all auXil-
iaries."
The secretary adds that the pro-
ject for developing the island of
Guam, as a naval base is progressing.
and that the naval station at Cavitc,
in the Philippines SIS to be developed
moderately"
progress in Expansio."
OF the service as a whole, Secretary
Daniels says that the task Of build
ing up the navy has gon forward
until we possess a navy worthy of
America" Taking his cue from Pres
ident Wilson's speech in ST. LOU in
1916, in which the president said the
American avy Ought to be ineom-
parably the most adequate navy in
the world" Secretary Daniels confi-
IDENTITY asserts that its attainment is
now in sight. For" he adds, the
navy today is i~ncomparably stronger
than ever before, ana its power VIII
be greatly increased by the battle
ships and cruisers now building
He reports construction of the IL
capital ships authorized in the three
year building program of 1916 is So
ing forward after its suspension dur
ing the war.
"These battleships Of 1920 tons
and battle cruisers Of 80 500 tons viii
he declares, "be larger and more pow
erful than any heretofore built, ane
without an equal in speed and sun
power
May Need New Program.
On defense, Secretary Daj7!e,s ss%s
that if the United States enters thc
League of Nations. our lresen
navy, with the addition of SOM spe
cial types, will be ~a5eQpata for o&s
defense and the prevention of az
gression." If. however we % rot on
ter "the' league or "a" league. ;ile
,aoro4,ry hoe thic t,-py',1n.y.
eff this country is to stand aiere
outside any effective asso latton Of
nations, we must be prepared to de-
fend our interests against any ros-
sible opposition or combination. This
will mean continuance of naval o.
struction. Indefinitely, costly as th.s
will be.
'Tf the United states is not to enter
any agreement with tho other powers
4 ] feel compelled to approve
the recommendation of the genera
board that congress authorize another
three-year program, to be begun as
soon as the capital ships row under
construction are launched" no goes
on to say. IF, however. provision is
made by our government for an inter
national agreement for n concert OF
nations, with strength to prevent war.
it will be neither necessary nor wise
to authorize either a thrce-year pro
gram or a large one-year program"
Opposes Separate Air Service.
Secretary Daniels opposes cstab-
lishInent of a separate air service,
such as is proposed in several bills
now before congress.
Secretary Daniels reiterates his
view that all wireless apDaratus
should be government owned and op'
Grated.
Of the International Communica.
tions conferences work during tn;
sessions it has been holding in wash.
ington, he says he hopes it will re.
suit in an agreement that viii bring
about q decided Improvement in com
munications in general and particu,
larry the use of radio"
Making Own S~mokelcss Powder.
He reports excellent progress il
the manufacture of 16-inch ant
smaller guns hat the navy is nov
making it's own smokeless powder
and that experts are developing nev
types of mines and depth charges.
The shore construction program o
the navy. he announces, is practica',
completed.
Secretary Daniels reports tina
there are now in the navy more thal
120, 900 enlisted men, more than twic
as many as were in the service pre-
vious to the war. Recruiting. h
says, is going forward SO rapid
there is reason to expect that earl
in the coming year the full author
uel strength, 1886, Will b
shached."
kAt.. tf-,n e. k44.-.
He adds. though, that there is sti
difficulty in obtaining skilled men !;
the higher ratings.