Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-13
GENERAL 7. /. BLISS
ASKSFOR SHOWDOWN
ON DISARMAMENT
u. S. Could Prepare Accord
ingIy, Officer Says, Urging
World Conference - Ma
vieS of Powers Compared

the UnlCeQ states call upon the Hd-
tions Of the world for "a full, free
| and fair discussion of reduction of
ornaments. the favorable response
would be prompt and inevitable"
| the house naval committee was told
| today by General Tasker H. Bliss.
| former American representative on
the supreme war council at Paris.
1.-THE nation that would come to
such a conference and refuse to
| agree to any proposition looking to
disarmament or at least a reduction
Of its military establishment" said
General Bliss. could be written
down as the next Germany and the
United States could make it's plans
accordingly"
General Bliss preceded before the
| committee Secretary Daniels, who
| appeared again to give the committee
| detailed information regarding the
relative strength of the great pow
ers. The former chief of staff of
| the army said his association with
the high military representatives of
the other powers at Paris had con-
tlrmed his belief that all of the great
nations of the world were ready to
talk disarmament seriously.
Strain rs Severe
Our present form of civilization
cannot stand the great strain of mil
itary preparation much fonger.'' Cen
eral Bliss declared. 1.-THE world war
was terrific strain on civilization,
The next war will be very much
worse. Fear is the basis Of war
preparation. There is a business
proposition and we should determine
whether there is any real basis for
the fear that causes these great mil
ltary and naval programs"
1t would not be necessary to have
all the nations of the world repre-
sented at the suggested conference,
the general said. if the United States,
Great Britain, France, Japan and
Italy reached an agreement. The
smaller nations would willingly ac-
cede to any proposal put forward in
good faith by these five great DOW
ers, he declared.
General Bliss said he had discus
sed disarmament, Sin a general way
and incident to other matters" with
Marshal Foch and high British mill
-tary leaders. -. = -t'''s-'-s
DID you ever talk it over with
any of Japan's or Italy's off1cials?'
asked Chairman Butler.
II believe I did with Italian repre-
sentatives," was the reply. "Of
course, the subject only came up at
that time incidentally"
People Pay Taxes
eff it were left to me, q would not
disarm an American soldier nor lay
up an American ship until all the
great powers had reached an agree
ment," declared the general eff such
a conference were to be held, and if
the secretary were to make public
very day an abstract of the PROPOSE
tions put forward and the arguments
for and against, with the names of
the national representatives who
made them the common people of
the world would not allow the con-
ference to dissolve until at least the
first step forward had been taken. I
do not care what cabinets of the
world think, the masses of the peo-
pie, who pay the taxes, have the vi
tai interest in this subject"
In major ships and inr gun powder
the United States navy will be supe-
TO ha Prif Itch,
try's building program is completed
in 1925. Secretary Daniels said in dis
closing the relative sea strength of
England, Japan and the United
States.
This country's construction plans
also will put America ahead of Japan
in total tonnage of fighting ships at
ratio of two and one-half to one,
Secretary Daniels said. He added,
however, that should Japan build the
program which she has projected but
not authorized, the ratio IN Ameri-
cas- favor would decrease to that OF
one and a quarter to one
Detailed Comparison
In addition Secretary Daniels fig
ureS for the future show:
lin total tonnage and effective
| fighting ships, America will approx
| mately equal Great Britain but will
| be considerably weaker in light
| cruisers and other ships used to pro-
! tect the main body of the fleet and
! to conduct blockades; slightly in
| will have no modern aircraft carriers
suitable for fleet operation.
1.-THE United States will be SUI
perior to Japan in total ships, de-
| stroyerS and submarines, but inferior
| in battle cruisers and light cruisers.
Presenting three tables, Mr.. Dan
| iels declared first that in total ton
mage and the number of effective
| fighting ships, the relative strength
relative Strength
Britain. 1,5SS,442 tone. 53S ships;
United States, 1913 tons, $50
ships.
Japan. 34O,596 tons, 40 ships.
Mr.. Daniels indicated the size of
present authorized building program
as follows:
Britain, 1890 tons, So ships.
United States, 842,109 tons, 100
ships.
Japan, 32345O tons. Al ships.
If the nations complete their pres
ent program without making amy ad-
| ditions in the meantime, Mr. Daniels
said the standing would be:
Completed Program
Britain, 1,6S5,332 tons; United
States, 1,617,282 tons; Japan, 689,656
| tons.
To Japan's program, the secretary
said, he should add 368,27O tons pro-
| jected for completion by 1927, but
not yet authorized, which would give
Japan a total of 1,057,926 tons.
Mr. Daniels stressed the fact that
! the United States had no aircraft
carriers for the fleet and none had
been authorized. England had four,
he said. He Endorsed a rounding
out" program prepared by the gen
eral board, which provides for an
| aircraft carrier, some light cruisers
program, he said, would cost $107,-
900, 900.