The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-02-04
NAVY GENERAL BOARD OPPOSES
PLAN To HALT SHIP BUILDING

Washington. Feb. %.-Thc major ship
remain the bass OF S"ap"w"r and those
who argue that the a]irNiHn" and tho sub
marine have supplantrd x are KIN
the country to accept hopes for ac-
complishments." n" navy general board
says In a report 10 Secretary Daniels
made public today.
The general board having kept in
touch with Naval progress along all
lines" says The report. 'rcitcratcs its
belief in the hattlCsh:p< as forming tho
principal units Of the fleet. Without,
them the United states cannot hope %
cope with existing n1SieS.'
Urging that equality in power be the
continuing navy policy Of the United
States" the board says there is no
thought OF tnsticu;Ipg international
competitive building and that no
other nation can IN reason take cNccp-
zion to such Il POSITION"
1T annot justly hr constructed a.
~ challenge" the rcn"r. continues. ~
policy Of equality or substantially equal
ornaments may well tend 20 diminish
their growth and 10 lessen the danger or
sudden war"
y The report. si~Qcd by Rear ADMIRAL
Charles ]. Badger. president and torm"r
commander in chief Of the Atlantic
fleet was approved by secretary Dan
'Iels and was transmitted By him 70 the
senate naval committee for It's intor-
nation in considering pending dtSarma-
ment and naval holiday" resolutions.
= Oppose Naval Holiday"
Asserting that the guiding policy that
had shaped the general boards rom
struction recommendations since 1908
. was that no rest period or limitation
OF armament" be agreed TO by the Unit
ed States. that would modify the great
naval building program OF 1915. now
under construction in numbers. general
or dates Of completion.
Cessation OF naval building BY Great
Britain Is attributed by ne general
board to the great prepondGrance in her
navy OF all types OF ships and 10 the
present economic situation.
The ships authorized IN the 1916 pro
gram are thoroughly modern. the report
says, adding there is no reason I" o
lieve that department IN submarine or
aerial warfare will seriously dctra"t
from their value for many years. Com
plotting the program should not. how
ever. deter the navy from developing u
the utmost, new or partially developed
weapons, such as submarines, aircraft
and aircraft carriers.
Borah's Plan U~nessenttal.
A suspension OF work on the naval
building program for SIX months 10 al
low experts 70 determine n the light a:
the lessons OF the world war, what tHp-S
of ships are most useful. aS provided IN
the pending Borah resolution us n"'th-
err necessary nor advisable. tnc board
asserts.
Every new weapon Of ofIcnSe that has
threatened the supremacy OF the capital
ship has been met by \ successful mode
OF defense the report declares, CltirS
the development Of the torpedo as an
development OF the Submartnc and -
alrcraft and added that "iuHCDt'"u Will
provide means for meeting the future
development Of thvSc Weapons and they.
like their dangerous predecessors. Will
continue TO De- only aGJuac;s Of The
fleet.
1t would De the height of unwlSdom
Tor any nation possessing sea power -
pin its faith and chtnE" Its practice
upon mere theories a. 20 the future de-
ye.opmcntS OF new and untrIcd WEE"
pons," the report says, but thai tact
does not rclicv" US Of the Necessity 81
developing TO the utmost NV p"nS
and Inventions AS rapidly "s pos
Sible."
III is easy t. lay a bomb ON the dc"i
81 a ship. ,\pludy II from a safe plaC,
and then ,xvltm over tn" damage q
has wrought" the report adds. but I
Is a very d!C'cr"rt matter t. place tn
Samc hu'nb from TIA" ar when undc|
uIiirc and attack 10y enemy planes
IurEtiaS to tn, sr'.,t growth at IN"
America" n.rc!Gplt nHr'n" "a" r. port
emphaS.z.S that no u,tn"n had oyer G"'u
aSlc to establish and maintain a lar="
merchant fleet without dr~y'iur.nS 1t
NAVY 10 ,Ss.,- aUG protect II.