The New York herald., 1921-01-09
Programme of 1916, Calling
for 155 Capital Ships by
1924, Supported by the
President Elect.
FIRST NAVAL POWER
Confers With Representa-
tive Butler on Provisions
of Naval Bill and APP
preparations.
COOL TOWARD 'HOLIDAY'
National Lumbermen to Carry
to Marion a Measure De-
signed to Revive Build
ing Operations.
COOL TOWARD HOLIDAY

Special Despatch TO THE NEW York HERALD.
MARION, Ohio, Jan. S.-President-
elect Harding supports the big navy
programme which promises to rake
the United States the greatest Iisvc.
Power in the world by 1924, stronger
in modern construction by 100000 tons
than Great Britain. Until more evil
Sence then now exists IS produced to
prove that foreign Powers sincerely
seek a naval policy, the President
elect believes the security Of the
United States demands that the pro-
gramme Of 1915, calling for 155 capital
ships, including six battle cruisers and
ten superdreadnoughts, be carried out.
That is the impression carried away
from Marion tonight by Representa-
tive Thomas Butler Of Pennsylvania,
chairman of the House Committee on
Naval Affairs, after long conference
with Senator Harding. Representative
Butler feels assured that the House
will put through all the appropriation
requirements of, the 1916 capital ship
programme and will act with the SYM
pathy and approval of the next Presi-
dent. He gathered. too, that the Presi-
dent-elect's purpose is to counsel rigid
economy for and in the army, and to
keep the regular military establishment
down to skeleton dimensions. while
displaying liberality toward the ma
tion's first line of defence-the navy.
Doubts Wisdom OF "Holiday."
That the President-elect Is keenly in
terested in the various proposals put
forward regarding an international
naval holiday Mr.. Butler perceived. but
he noted also that he Is doubtful II the
suggestions and schemes now being ad-
vanced will ever come to anything. Un-
I'll he Is shown" until something OF a
definite and practical nature Is disclosed
and agreed upons the next President
wants to see the American navy main
tanned and strengthened and favors find
ing the necessary money to that end.
Representative Butler. after his con-
ference with Senator Harding, outlined
his opinion as to the extent the naval
establishment could be reduced in the
interest Of economy without danger to
the country. He indicated that while
tJa conversation with the President
elect had been of the most general char
acter their ideas were in accord. He had
assurance. he said, that tho Harding
Administration was for maintenance OF
a strong navy.
''The good and efficient features of
the naval establishment must be kept"
said Mr.. Butler. "and the wasteful fea-
lures discarded. And we know where
the rat holes are. I am in favor of con-
tinuing the 1916 building policy, but
do not believe the completion of that
programme should be rushed, In view of
the condition of the Treasury. We
should go steadily ahead.
"All the ships provided for In the pro-
granime have now been laid down, but
the work on the battle cruisers Is only
in its initial state. These cruisers must
be constructed. but they should be built
on n plan consistent with the Govern
ment and the Treasury.
Adequate Naval Reserve.
II am thoroughly encouraged with the
prospect OF procuring for the country
an adequate naval reserve. A bill to
provide such a reserve will be intro
duced next Tuesday in Congress and
pushed to passage. want to see a re-
serve OF 10000. This would cost the
country not more than s14,0o0.0o0
year. II is the intention to mako this
q reserve OF merchant seamen.
'They will be transferred TO naval
vessels one or two months each year and
sthcn returned to their own ships The
plan comprises many OF the features OF
the German and English reserves, but Is
purely voluntary. All the men Joining
the merchant marine would be requested
TO enlist In the naval reserve and would
be paid from the Federal Treasury from
the date of enlistment"
Representative Butler declared that
now In the time TO take UP the question
Of limitation of armament, IL over.
81 want TO know, however, II the ma
fions seeking a naval holiday disarma-
nent are in earnest i am going to try
10 get information on this subject next
Tuesday. Are we going to so hand In
hand with those nations or alone? The
present Congress faces the responsibility
OF voting upon the request OF the Navy
Department for s1S7.000,000 70 round
out the present naval programme. We
want to know whether IL would be nee
essary to grant this request for the
safety OF the nation or not"
Mr.. Butler declined TO give tho names
of the persons TO be summoned before
the Naval Committee Of the House next
Tuesday, TO provide that Information.
He pointed out that provision for an in
fernational conference on disarmament
already existed In the Hensley amend
ment to the naval programme bill of
August. 1915. and that 100000 was now
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