The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1921-03-10
NAVAL DISARMAMENT

MIR. Daniels, when Secretary, was
strongly in favor pf the maintenance of
a powerful navy president Harding and
Mr.. DENLY, who Is now at the head of
our navy department., believe as did Mr..
Daniels, and great many other well in
formed and forward looking men agree
with them. We sometimes feel that
4hese people have. information, or per-
haps we ought to say, fear, that pow
erful navy may BIZ very much needed
within few years. The Journal men,
4ioned several weeks ago that the United
St ates had very extensive continental
coast line to protect, and the present
contention about zap reminds us quite
Torcibly that we have numerous insular
holdings and responsibilities. Hawaii
and the Philippines are the most impor-
&ant, but we have Guam and more than
7ifty other islands scattered in the Paclf-
&c Ocean, outposts of various transporta-
zion lines, useful and necessary as coal
ing stations and ports of refuge. Per-
haps Tutuila is the most important OF
&hese 1t is 4, 100 miles from San Fran
cisco, 2,263 miles from Hawaii, $3.50
miles from Auckland, 1850 miles from
Sydney and 1900 mics from Manila. 1t
has population of about 1900 Its i'm
-oortance is due to the fact that nowhere
IN the Pacific has there been found bet
Ter island harbor fol-: safety and protec-
4ion. 1t is harbor which will hold the
entire navy of the U fitted States and the
1eatrance is sucn as will admit only two
vessels at time. Its coaing station is
SO protected by high bluffs that it cannot
he reached by shells from the open ocean.
Make is another Of our small but impor-
tant islands and is situated on the direct
steamship route from tie United States
via Hawaii to Hong Kong, about 2,OOo
miles from the former and about 3,0o0
from the latter. The above figures give
us an enlarged view of the needs and
RESPONSIBILITIES which must be recognized
and assumed if we are to MAINTAIN our
dignity ana pItstlee DIS siH
ecial nation, and as world power
The conviction is growing IN the pup
lie mind that it is not prudent Tor the
limited States to reduce its navy until
England and Japan agree and oeeln 10 40
+he same 1t has been suggested to these
powers that naval disarmament CON
ference between their representatives ana
aurs he held in-this country to make an
agreement for mutual disarmament "
prescribed limitations. Whether any
4hiue will result from this conference
time alone will show. We hope that al
least it will be agreed that no new con-
struction of battleships and hrst class
cruisers will be undertaken in the near
future. The navies of fifty years ago
gould be useless today and it is probable
that in ten years from now the navles Oh
today will have become OF little use 1or
offensive or defensive warfare. Naval
battles in the future are not likely to be
won by weight of projectile from rlfled
guns on armored ships. Submarines, air
planes and seaplanes will probably be the
dec iding factors in naval conflicts. 1t
is now an open question whether even
our best battleships can withstand the
destructive power of bombs dropped from
sirplanes. An effort is to be made to
settle this question next summer by ex-
eeriments upon surrendered German war
vessels. If these vessels are destroyed,
aew naval problems will confront the
aations of the world.