New-York tribune., 1921-02-10
Report of Committee OPP
posing Borah Resolu-
hon Holds 1t Is Folly to
Halt Construction Now
Would Wait for
World to Disarrn
Greater Aircraft Develop.
ment Advocated, but
Capital Ship Is Upheld
From The Trtouns's Washington surea.

FROM The Tribnns's W1shtnQto4 Buysav
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-While advo-
eating the general principle of reduc-
tion of armaments by agreement, the
senate Naval Affairs Committee, in re-
porting against the Borah resolution
proposing suspension of capital ship
construction, to-day took strong stand
IN tavor of great navy for America
under present conditions. 1t declares
for navy Eat least equal to that of
any other power"
The view of the committee is that
it would be folly for the United States
to halt its naval building program or
to start toward disarm ament unless dis
armament is general, and inclusive of
the great maritime powers.
The report in the main indorses the
views of the Naval General Board. 1t
holds that it would cost the govern
ment heavily to halt building for six
months, as proposed in the Borah res
olution. 1t takes the position the capi-
te ship is not out of date. At the same
time, the report favors study and de-
yelopments of high explosives, aircraft
and submarines.
Airplane Carriers for Destroyers
70 encourage aircraft DEVELOPMENT
the committee makes the recommends
ton that in the 1916 naval program,
two airplane carriers be substituted for
twelve destroyers and six submarines
therein, contracts for which have not
been let
Senator Poindexter presented the
report for the Naval Affairs Commit
tee. 1t is not without significance that
the report reflects views of Senator
Lodge, chairman of Foreign Relations.
who also is on the Naval Affairs Com
mlttee and is on the subcommittee,
along with Senator Poindexter, to
which the Borah resolution was re-
ferred. Senator Lodge expressed his
opinions at the last meeting of the
Naval Committee.
The, report of the committee is
backed by all of its members, except
Senator King, of Utah, Dem ocrat. -Sena-
Tor hlng is preparing minority re-
two.
"The members of the committee. !"
says the report, "are as anxious to
bring about q reduction of armaments
and relief from, the burdens which
those armaments impose upon the ma
tlons OF the earth as any one can be,
but no disarmament would be of anv
value unless it was general and, in the
case of the great maritime powers,
universal. Unhappily, this is not the
case at the present time, and we must
deal with conditions as they exist.
U. S. Must Defend Herself
"For one nation to leave itself ex-
posed to attack while another is pre-
pairing all the engines of war would not
only be folly, but the greatest danger
to the peace of the world that could
be imagined. We earnestly hope that
an agreement may be reached among
the nations for a general reduction Of
armaments, but at the present moment
universal disarmament has not been
established and the United States can
not leave itself undefended if it is
threatened from any quarter. To do
SO would be wrong to the American
people and no service to the cause Of
peace."
The report embodies the letter of the
Naval General Board regarding the
Borah proposal for a six months sus-
pension of building. After quoting
this letter, the Naval Affairs Committee
makes these observations:
"Your committee indorses and ap-
proves in the main> the observations
and conclusions of the foregoing let
ter. The value and importance of sub
marines, aircraft and high explosives
are admitted, and the committee rec
ommends that the scientific study and
development of all these means of
naval warfare be actively continued
Depth bombs, mines, aerial torpedoes
and high explosive shells fired from
great guns, whether of the howitzer or
other types, are all important agencies
of attack and defense at sea, and in
tensive study of their potential uses
should be continued, with a view of
utilizing them to the greatesbp bppossible
advantage.
Capital Ships Held Necessary
IF we assume, however, a naval
power armed with ali these devices, and
with destroyers and swift light cruis-
ers, but with no battleships or battle
Continued on page feur)