The Washington herald., 1921-06-22
The Folly of Great Navies.

. " opening the conference OF the British COM
/ Shonwealth, Lloyd George reiterated the
! = British dogma that the empire had been built
up sea power. Necessarily" he said "sea power
is the basis of the whole empires existence" 1t is
significant that, as the British always do, he used
the word existence" and not trade" or com
merce"
Great Britain and Ireland has a population of
about 100000. Canada, Australia, New Zealand
and South Africa have combined population of
less than one-hird OF 100000 They the Brit
ish -hresd-bas and of many essential raw
materials. The kingdom produces food enough to
feed rs people, possibly, about three months. In
cease of war; the British would starve and their in
dustries be closed if they off from the sea
lanes..
4 1t is not true that great navy or any con-
siderable navy is essential to any country's COM
meree, in time of peace. Navies not a peace
agency. They are distinctly and solely war
agency. No country which is self-sustaining within
itself, needs navy for protection of its shores.
There are now better means OF protection in air
planes and shore batteries 1t was not the British
navy which protected her shores in the great war,
but German naval timidity and ignorance of condi-
tions But British dependence for existence on
power abundantly proved.
Neither is great navy of vital advantage to
any country offensive weapon in war with
Japanese war, the Russian feet reached Japan
waters, hopelessly crippled. In our war with Spain
that country unable to send an effective feet
from that distance. with coal contraband of war.
Today capital ships must be protected by school
OF small craft and fuel has become vastly greater
problem. The sailing radius of capital ships in war
is limited by that of their mosquito fleets.
Sea lanes longer kept open, protected
NOS closed by batteships Coast lines are not pro-
N.kka aI -.
navy twice the size of Japan's but to strike Japan
with it, would necessitate great naval base, not
on west coast, but in the Philippines. Japan
would never attempt to attack west coast, but
would attack the Philippines. We would have to
fight her there and in of trouble would have
to reach there with feet first, and it would
then probably lie in harbor.
- If Japan got the Philippines and kept them,
this would cripple only pride AS our naval
building is aimed Japan, and this is accepted as
fact it is certainly the folly of foes the part Of
both to continue the building To transfer navy
to the Philippines would be direct challenge
yet nowhere else is it available against Japan.
1t is valueless for peace. France nor Italy, Bel
gium nor Holland, the Scandinavias nor Germany,
feels the need of navy for trade and commerce.
The one and sole excuse for great American navy
is to force Japan to naval disarmament. Maybe the
cost is worth this. The country has the utmost
confidence in the pacific desires of the President
and in the wisdom Of Secretary Hughes But they
sHd the people recognize that only through dis
armament is a material reduction in taxation posi-
BILE and they also realize that the solution of world
troubles lies in the field of economies not of
inilitarism.