Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-02
SUICIDAL TO CUT NAVY,
WARNS SENATOR PAGE
Sound Judgment, lie Says, De-
mands Completion Of seven
teen Major Craft.
IDy United Newell

WASliINGTON. Jan. Regardless
of any International action tending
toward naval disarmament. tho
United states mpst ana VIII com
plctc. In the interest OF economy.
the major portion OF its navnl build
ing program adopted in 1916,
This !s the view Of Senator Car
roll S. Page, OF Vermont. chairman
OF the Nava! Affairs Committee OF
The upper chamber. expressed Friday
icrr!ew with the United News The
senator was questioned regarding the
various projects for Limitation. OF ar
mancnts, which are meeting with in
cr.as!n6 favor in America and
abroad.
Mr., Page nrsu.d that i, would be
suicidal to permit the American Navy.
now capable OF meeting any great
enemy. 20 drop from the high posi-
ton II holds. lIc believes that sound
Judgment dictates carly competition
OF the seventeen Hajor Var craft and
other vessels on which work ls 30
per cent advanced. la; tnar 1T mi-ht
oc Wei IN some degree To delay the
vessels now building"
The question OF disarmament IS so
broad involving, as u do"s. not only
All branches ~ our military and
'A'- a. ~ ~ "a 90 .pIl. bIt oar inter
national relations az well, and would
effect vitality the huiiding propranis
ot the three leading naval powers.
that a; this time | do not feel that
wc!l-SonSidereh statement can be
made as to how far our present naval
construction can be reduced" SAID
Page.
1T would be suicidal 10 permit our
navy navy adequate to meet In
time of emergency any great enemy.
TO drop from tho high position and
standing which II nor. holds
would Admit Some Delay.
However. so far as tho naval pro-
gram now In force is concerned as 1t
relates to our financial condition and
the sound business principles Ia be
anticipated of our incoming admin!s-
rat!on. IL mlgh; ba well IN some do
gree To delay the actual completion
building.
AT present we have eleven battle.
ships. six battle cruisers. ten scou,
cruisers, for:ysiiva oestroycrs, forty
construction. OF the bat,Icsh ps
four, and OF the scout cruisers, ave
are over so ner cent completed
tate the completion OF these vessels
anbstantiaily within the time CON
that the completion Of those less than
oU per cent SnOulu ne pro-
ccedcd with more deliberately. allow
ing tho work TO proceed moderately
both for reasons Of economy and 10
permit the future to develop as con-
Gitions may seem 10 justify.
'Of course sound Judgment will
have 10 dictate in all cases Of con
struction for it is quite often the
case that while actual construction
work on vessel may not have pro-
Cccdcd very far ii may well be found
that fabricated material of great
value has. been purchased and pro-
vided for, and to fail 10 make use oil
this material would be moor economy
Suggests Great Moderation.
"Of the scout cruisers under con
struction none are completed to the
extent of 10 per cent. Of the do
strnyers. submarines. and miscc!-
lancous craft various degrees of com
plction have been reached with moro
than half of them over so per cent
completed. Present conditions of the
Treasury would dictate that we pro-
coed with great moderation towards
the final completion of these vessels
"a proper regard for and husband
ing OF our financial resources ut this
time would seem to make it eXpe-
dent that we attempt to complete
within schedule time only such OF the
vessels now under actual CONSTITUTE
ton as are far advanced towards COM
plction.
mo new construction has been au-
thoriZcd since 1916. ana the nava! APP
preparation acts under the Item IN
crease of the navy have provided for
only those funds absolutely nsces.
sary for the fiscal year involved. t0
cover the expense Of hulls and out
fits of vessels and machinery OF YES
| sells previously authOriZcd.'