The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1921-02-18
COMPLETION OF 1921 SHIP
BUILDING PLAN Is AD-
V0CATED
SENATE COMMITTEE REPORTS
Suspension Of Ship Building lie Not a
Practical Plan for This Govern
ment is the Belief Of In
Vestiaators.

Washington.-An American navy,
sat least equal to that Of any other
power" is advocated in a report Of the
senate naval committee filed in the U.
s. senate. The committee, replying
to the Borah resolution, said: "It is
not practical and is not a sound policy
to suspend naval construction for
period of six months, nor at ALL"
1t urged completion of the great
1916 naval program, except that two
huge naval aircraft carriers be built
in place of twelve destroyers and six
submarines, which have been author
lied, but not yet contracted for.
Capital Ships Primary.
Capital ships remain the principal
units of sea power, the committee
said, adding that submarines and air
craft were as yet only auxiliary forces.
The committee report to which
Senator King, democrat, Utah, plans
to file minority report, expressed a
desire that an agreement for limita
tion of naval armament might be
reached among the nations, but said
that until some such arrangements
were made the United States should
continue its building program.
"In view of the importance of sea
power to the United States," the COM
mittee informed the senate, "and the
fact that without it we would be at
the mercy of other nations, it is the
opinion Of your committee that this
country should maintain a navy at
least equal to that of any other power.
"The lessons of history teach us
with indisputable truth that we cannot
afford to depend for the maintenance
lOf our rights and the defense Of the
lives and commerce of our citizens up
on the mercy, generosity or good will
of other powers with rival or conflict
ing interests and ambitions"
'It is the opinion of this commit
fee." the report continued, that the
UNITED States should have under its
control a sufficient force to protect
and preserve both it's material posses
;sions, the policies it has established,
the lives and rights of its citizens and
the principles upon which its govern
iment is founded.
Equality Is Sought.
For these reasons we are of the
opinion that there should be no sus-
pension of the present building pro
gram of the navy, which, as at pres
ent laid out, is at the. most, only de-
signed to place us on footing Of
equality with any other power upon
the sea-"
The report expressed approval and
Endorsement of the navy general
boards summary of the situation lead
ing to the conclusion that the capital
ship remains the strongest naval unit.
1T recommended, however, scientific
study and development of the subma-
rine, aircraft and high explosives.
Other powers have not abandoned
the major ship, said the report, and
are proceeding with extended pro
grams of battleship construction.
AuSlIlsrles Are Necessary.
A naval power armed with these
devices but lacking in battleships and
battle cruisers, opposed to rival
power with all auKiliaries and also
heavy ships, would be at the m0rcy
of the enemy, the report said.
''The rival forces of light craft" it
said, whether on or below the sur
face, or in the air, would neutraliEe
each other, leaving the power which
possessed heavy ships, armed with
great guns. in undisputed control of
the sea-"
"The members Of the committee" /"
the report concluded, ARE as anxious
TO bring about reduction Of arma-
ments and relief from the burdens
which those ornaments impose upon
the nations of the earth. as any one
can be, but no disarmament would be
H.. Il