Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-29
EXISTING STRENGTH
YARD TICK APPLIED.

XARDSTICk APPLIED.
In reply to Japanese claims America
urged that the Hughes program leans
in the direction of generosity to Japan.
II the United States gives up fifteen
ships, she sees no uufairness in asking
Japan to make the same ratio Of sacri-
fce" The American scheme puts for
ward Il very simple formula easily ap-
piled II asks nothing from either Great
Britain or Japan that we are not willing
commensurately 10 give up ourselves.
America approached the whole PROPOSE
ton from "the fundamental question OF
relativity." one OF its chief expononts
explained. 1--WE decided the only feasible
yardstick," he said, was existing
strength, Is, ships built and building"
The American delegation for two
weeks has stuck rcsolutely to those basic
figures. IL invited the naval experts Of
Great Britain and Japan to tear them to
pieces If they could The result of their
eforts-and they have been Of no molly
cOddle Characters that they have been
tried and not found wanting. The posi-.
ton. In short, has been jockeyed into
one whore any naval power TINT seeks to
alter the American quotas can only do 90
at the risk Of exposing to all the world
its determination to arm at sea. not for
defense, but for aggressive warfare. Al
teratiOns on minor phases Of the Hughes
program are stin possible. On It's major
phase-the "5-5-3" scheme for fghting
craft tonnnage-the last word appears to
have been spoken.
The current issue Of tho Army and
Navy Journal makes an announcement
likely to cause nationwide comment and
wonder-namely that what is dubbed
the Hughes navy" will call for a con
Il to-
lcers and men than the present Navy
In commission" The existing feet is
said to contain reduced compliments"
Of 100000 men and $500 officers The
Hughes Navy" the article alleges, viii
require Ordinary peace compliments" Of
$4,000 men and 1900 officers. or $4,000
more men than are enlisted IN the Navy
and 400 more officers.
NAVY SHORT
IN PERSONNEL
The Navy today is VIGOROUSLY short
of full compliments Of personnel; It has
been said there is not q battleshlp or de-
stroyer In either the Pacific or Atlantic
fleet adequately manned. According to
the Army and Navy Journal "even
greater deficiencies would exist If the
Hughes Navy were commissioned with
the personnel now in service 1t thus
Will ne seen the NuOIluBt III officers ana
men under the proposed changes will
be n serious handicap to the efficiency
of the naval forces Of the country With
fewer ships the efficiency should be in
creased"
Elsewhere, on the same subject, the
Army and Navy Journal remarks:
at was to be expected Mr. Hughes
proposals would precipitate some paci-
icistic hysteria in many quarters. The
incident Of Representative Kelley pro-
posing to reduce the personnel Of the
Navy by half illustrates how radical an
error has been made by some persons in
estimating the effect Of Mr.. Hughes pro-
posals upon the American Navy.
"If Congress follows the lead Of Mr.
Kelly and reduces the personnel of the
Navy still further, our National Legisla-
ture effectively will nullify the diplomatic
accomplishments Of our Secretary Of
State and his eminent American asso-
ciates. To reduce the Navy personnel by
half the present quota, as Mr.. Kelley
proposes, would be just as serious a mat
ter as if Mr.. Hughes had proposed the
ratio Of tonnage to be America 2, Great
Britain 3, and Japan 3. The 1858" plsn
would become merely for American sell
protection. "-Copyright 1921, by Pubic
Ledger Company.