Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-02-05
Borah Plan
ToCut Navy
Is Rejected
Senate Committee Opposes
Suggestion for Six Months
Suspension of Ship
building Program.
Officers Oppose Holiday
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
(hicn10 rib nu., hc GRa~

10
Chicago Tribune -Onaha Bee Leosed Wire.
Washington, Feb. +--Whilc Ad-
nral Sims and other officers before
the house committee on naval af-
idlrs were opposing naval holi-
day. the senate committee on naval
affairs rejected the suggestion OF Il
slN months suspension OF navy
building by the United States.
Senator PonideNter was instruct
ed TO prepare report for presen-
tation to the senate tomorrow, ad-
, Hising against this proposal con-
tanned in the Borall resolution and
uphold;ug the opinion of the navy
general board that construction OF
capital ships cannot safely be either
abandoned or suspended.
Chairman Butler OF the house COM
tittcc. who recently conferred with
president-clect Harding. announced
that the United States shortly would
invite the powers 10 participate i'll
a conference on the reduction of
armament.
"I know that these nations are
going to be invited to talk over dis
armament and the question is
whether they will accept the invita-
iion," he said.
Officers Against Holiday.
1t was the unanimous advice OF
naval officers that there should be
no naval holiday for the United
States, no discontinuance OF naval
strengthening until the United
States navy is as strong as the
strongest. The present building pro-
gram must be completed, they said,
and it must be supplemented with
airplane carriers to make it as strong
as other navies. :,
Admiral Sims said that even with
no sign of trouble, he would not
..bandon the present battleship build
ing program. "Geperal Pershing
told you that there would be no
war with Great Britain. But you
can't tell what Great Britain will do.
You can't tell what will come out
Of conditions in central Europe.
The admiral said he thought there
would be no delay in acceptance
by foreign powers of an invitation
to a conference on limitation OF
armament. 1T is no longer nee
cssary for England to have fleet
as big as she has. She built it
against Germany. Great Britain,
Iapan and the United States could |
cut their navies i'll hall and their |
relative power would remain as it
is" he commented.
ta n>e:1.>oe a.. C,,L.
Admiral Sims said the Alneri- |
can navy was deficient in subma-
rines and greatly inferior to Great
Britain in the air. $50 great now is
the menace of airplane attack that
our fleet, when completed, will be OF
little use in a contest with another
fleet unless adequately equipped
with airplanes, and would be easily
licked" he said.
The admiral minimized the value
OF anti-aircraft guns. On the western
front during the war it TOOK l,OOO
shots TO score one hit. II would not
abandon the battieship, bus If the
airplane can do the work claimed |
Tor it, | would build the airplane
carrier" he said.
Brig. Gen. William Mitchell of the
air service, said i was the German
plan before the war ended to send
giant bombing plane to this coun-
try to bomb New York. He said
Trey had perfected one that could |
make the trip. He dropped the in
formation that the air service was
building one now of a similar model.
General Mitchell said that three F.;
inch gun recently had been fired |
from an airplane with little notice
of recoil and he predicted that short
~ six-inch guns could be used. He
urged that the committee authorize
the use of an obsolete battleship for |
a real aerial attack, and said i'll such ,
a test he could convince members
Of congress that effective defense
l;nc ~ tuue air force