Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-06
DANIELS SAYS j. S. !.
MAY NEED BIG NAVY.
Must Have League Of Nations
or Worlds Greatest Armament,
Secretary Tells Congress
ADDS TO. BUILDING PROGRAM

NHSntngtNH. MHT'n O.-lBN n. u. J
Secretary Danields told the House
naval committee today he would recon.
mcnt a naval building program for the
next fiscal year larger than that pro-
posed by The general board 'if the
peace treaty IL not ratified at this SOS.
sion of Congress. Withholding final
recommendation however. the spcrc.
tary added that if this country in the
end rejected membership in the League
of Nations, he would feel imppllcd TO
renew his recommendation for another
three year program of construction.
League or Biggest Navy
Rciterating his statement Of last year
that eve must have n I.engnc Of M
tions by which every nation will help
preserve the peace Of the world without
competitive nava! building, or We must
have incomparably the biggest navy in
the world" Daniels declared there VAS
no middle ground
''If the covenant had been ratified.
Daniels said. "our duty would have
been plain. With the league in opera.
ton, composed at first Of all the ma
tions allied or associated in the world
war. and with provision for admittanrc
of all other nations opposed to con
quest and militarism. II would not be
necessary to impose on the taxpayers Of
America the assessments necessary for
building more capital ships.
The program which the secretary rec
commended be authorized in event the
treaty il not ratified agreed with the
general boards proposal as to capital
ships---two battleships and one, battle
cruiser-bxt added to that proposal
twenty light cruisers and fourteen flo
tilla leaders or super destroyers. No
light cruisers and only six super de-
stroyers were recommended by the
board.
1t had been his intention IL the peace
treaty were ratified with the possi
bility of armaments being curtoiled and
regulated" the secretary declared. to
recommend definitely only such mod =
crate" building program necessary to
Ground out the fleet" No capital ships
would have been included in this pro
gram. he added, but in the unsettled
condition of the world today he de-
clared. the American navy must be
prepared for any emergency
Most Powerful Ships
Secretary Daniels emphasized the
fleets deficiency in light cruisers and
other secondary craft, as demonstrated
by war lessons. The present battleshiI
strength. he pointed out, would soon bt
Increased by the ten dradnOughts now
building. "morc powerful than any
| battleships afioat," in addition to thu
six battle cruisers under construction
ueccssitating more auxiliary craft.
Dcstroyers and other anti submarine
| craft construction during the war
Daniels said, had taxed facilities ant
prevented balanced additions to thu
fleet. while Great Britain had beer
able to carry out a well balanced pro,
gram. He pointed out that the British
navy had increased its light cruisers
to n@'' seventy six, against which tn,
American navy had only three, all o.
| doubtful value.
In addition to capital ships the sec
retary's contingent program. included
| six scout cruisers, eight mine laylnt
! cruisers, six feet submarines. four arr
plane carriers and other auxiliary craft
Bigger Fleet Needed in Status Quo
Chairman Butler said Sir Auckland
Geddes. new British ambassador to the
United States. had been quoted as saying
that the British navy would not be
larger than that Of the United states
but Mr.. Daniels said Great Britain
was encouraging its colonies to ouilc
naval vessels. :,
Mr.. Daniels insisted that he woulc
urge construction of much larger hee'
$50 long as the status quo remains.
"In other words. you want us to ado
about S105 200, 200 to the naval ap-
propriation bill this year, said Repre-
] sentative Kelly, Republican. Michigan
"It would not all be needed thi'
year" replied the secretary. Som'
could be appropriated next year,
Against Old "Balance Of Power"
Replying to suggestions of Chairman
Butler that the United States need no
fear any other nation on the sea 81
long las an agreement with Great Brit
ain continued" the secretary said h
believed only league of nations will
a force strong enough to enforce ii
edicts could insure safety for th'
United States.
''As certainly as we entered into
combination with any other one ma
ton" he said, 'the other nations o
the world would d;strust us and fca
us and you would again have the oil
question of the balance of power