News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-02-09
EXPERTS DISCUSS
AIRCRAFT FUTURE
War Chiefs Differ on Whether
Planes Will Render Battle
ships PoWerlesS.
TO ASK WORLD TO. DlSARM
Three AdmiraIs at Hearing Recon-
mend Building AirpIane- Carrying
Ships-WouId Speed Program.
Could Cut Naves in Half.

WaslingtOn.-With the close Of II
round table discussion between the
great minds of the navy, including
half IA dozen rear admiraIs, members
of the General Board of the navy and
members of the House Committee ON
Naval Affairs, the Congressional cor
ferences on disarmament were prac-
tically ended Before lie gathering
was adjourned Chairman Butler an
nounced the United States would cali
an international conference to discuss
reduction in ornaments.
Mr.. Butler said later that he quoted
no authority in making the announce
ment. He added that lie has talked
with President-elect Harding and
"others conversant with the attitudes
of Great Britain and the other ma
tons and that lie SIS confident that
a conference will be called in the near
future"
The navy chiefs all urged that in
the event this country enters upon
such an international agreement the
present building program be cOmpet-
ed before armament construction is
suspended.
|. Admiral William S. Sims, comman-
der in chief of American naval opera
tons overseas during the war; who
was the first witness to testify, told
the committee that he believed Great
Britain and France would be quick to
respond to an invitation from this gov
eminent to discuss disarmament.
"The people on the other side, said
Admiral Sims, feel an impelIing me-
cessity to decrease the expenses 10
which they heretofore have been put
in the matter Of armament.
Il was in intimate contact With DILL
cials of foreign governments during
my stay in Europe, and conferred with
Lloyd George and other prime minis
ters. with ministers of marine and
naval chiefs and officers.
''These things were continually dis
cussed. The common remark was that
when we get through the war we will
all be pretty stupid if we do not find
some method of getting along without
great expenditures for armaments.'
"Everybody knows how much money
the British have spent on their navy,
and they don't want to 90 into build
ing again if they can avoid it,"
With Admiral Sims before the COM
mttee were Rear Admiral Il. Il.
COontZ, chief of naval operations;
Rear ADMIRAL Bradley A. Eiske, re-
tired, and Rear Admiruls Henry I.
Mayo, W. l.. Rodgers, r. H. Jackson,
a. +. Long, Charles j. Badger, chair
man Of the executive committee of the
navy General Beard; Major General
john y. Lejeune, cOmmandant of the
Marine Corps, and General Mitchell,
chief of the Army Air Service OF
theSe, formal statements were made
Dy Admiruls Sims, Badger and Flske
and General Mitchell.
In their testimony the three admir-
ais were unanimous in advocating an
International conference, but they
we're dubious as to complete success.
lhey proposed, along slightly varying
ines, tllat Il compromise agreement for
EQUALIZATION of armament programs
u.ht lie reached
After several hours discussion of
he possibility of universal disarma-
nent the conference branChed off to
he ailpiane and buttleShip. Opinion
mOng The navy experts was divided.
Admirals Sims and Fiske con c.ded