New-York tribune., 1920-03-07

addition the program would include
ers and large number Of smaller
craft.
Plans for 69-Ship Program
The 69-ship program included two
dreadnoughts and one battle-cruiser
for prompt construction. with large
program of cruisers and aux1liaries
while the Secretary's recommendations
should the United States ratify the
treaty and become league member
would include no capital craft,
1t had been his intention, if the
peace treaty were ratified with the
possibility of armamepts being cur
tailed and regulated" the Secretary de-
clared, to recommend definitely only
such moderate building" program as
is necessary to "round out the feet" No
capital ships would have been included
in this program, he added, but in the
day." he declared, the American navy
must be prepared for any emergency" :"
"The question for you to decide" the
Secretary told the committee. ais
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 expansion in
addition"
Emphasizes Fleets Deficiency
Secretary Daniels emphasized the
fleets deficiency in light cruisers and
Other secondary craft as demonstrated
by war lessons. The present battleshiu
strength, he pointed out, soon would be
increased bv the ten dreadnoughts now
building, "more powerful than any bat
ttleships a1oat." in addition to the six
battle cruisers under construction, ne.
cessitating more auxiliary craft.
pestroyers and other anti-submarine
craft construction during the war, Mr.
Daniels said, had taxed facilities and
prevented balanced additions to the
feet, while Great Britain had been able
to carry out we'll balanced program
He pointed out that the British navy
had increased its light cruisers to sew
enty-six, against which the American
navy has only three, all Of doubtful
value.
League or no league, believe the
United States should have as large g
navy as any other nation in the world, >
said Mr.. Daniels.
"Do you say that because you lacl
confidence in the proposed league p
asked Representative Britten.
Disappointed at Program
81 think all men admit that the de-
lay has detracted from the moral force
Of the league" replied the Secretary
POSSIBLY the loss could be made VI
after we entered. Certainly, If we dt
not enter many Of the smaller nations
will not have the confidence in the
league they would have if we were
in it."
"There will be no peace in Europe
without the United States in the
league" declared Representative Brit
ten.
"That statement is a strong argu-
ment for the league Of nations" inter
jected Representative Padget, Demo
crat, Tennessee.
eyes. sir" replied Representative
Britten, "for an Americanized league,
not the one brought back to u.s."
Representative Kelley declared he
was somewhat disappointed at Secre-
tary Daniels's recommendations for ex-
tensive naval building in view of Great
Britain's apparent intention to aban-
don competitive naval building, declar-
ing it Cooked little like double deal
ing on the part of the United States.
Argues Against Combipation
Mr.. Daniels insisted he would urge
construction of much larger fleet $50
long as the status quo remains"
'11n other words, you want US to add
about s195, 100000 to the naval appro-
priation bill this year." said Repre-
sentative Kelley, Republican, Michigan.
'It would not all. be needed this
year." replied the Secretary. "Some
could be appropriated next year"