The Washington times., 1921-06-25
CONGRESS BLIND TO.
NEED OF Stronger
NAVY FOR DEFENSE
CONTINUED from First Psre.)


pietion Of the base at New London
were all remorselessly struck from
the bill. The amendment providing
for the completion OF submarines
under construction was defeated.
Recognition OF the need for an air
navy Is equally grudging. Not merely
as scouts, but as actual hghting
auxiliaries to the battleships. air
planes have won their place. At the
battle Of Jutland they played an i'm
portant part and since that time
naval strategists have claimed for
them an ever increasing importance
in the battle line.
That bombs can be dropped with
accuracy upon the deck of ship has
been shown in the manoeuvres OF
every naval power. and the fact that
bombing planes are now constructs ed
that will deliver a bomb of a tons
weight gives some idea OF the reason
for the feverish haste shown by both
Great Britain and japan in the con-
struction of new naval aircraft.
Japan's purchase of forty planes In
England was noted in yesterday
American.
That is a fever. however. that does
not seem to have been catching In
washington. The Senate committee
wanted to build two aircraft carriers
and was lucky to get one, while the
total appropriation for new construe-
tion of aircraft, including a big
dirigibh, was cut TO s6.125,00o.
This sum is barely enough to keep
the industry alive in the United
States. and 1t is fact that. except
for Government contracts, the air.
plane companies would have to quit
functioning. Maintenance of this mig
gardly policy would inevitably result
in leaving the United States at the
opening of future war where II was
in 19l7-wholly destitute of any air
force whatsoever.
The recollection of the uncounted
millions then spent In the effort to
create an air force without the ma
tion's being able to put aloft a single
fiier of its own is strong In the public
mind. but apparently blotted from
that of Congress. For the policy of
this bill will inevitably Rad to the
recurrence of precisely that costly
experience.
Among authorities on naval devel-
opment find unity of opinion that a
fixed continuing program for aircraft
development should be adopted pre-
cisely as continuing building pro-
gram for capital ships is accepted.
The navy of the air Is too vital fac
tor in our defense program to be left
to the uncertainty of changing popu-
lar opinion year after year.
While the Navy Department In OBJ.
viously preparing for the conoentrs,,
tion OF naval force in the Pacific, this
years appropriation bill does not
greatly encourage that policy. Poli-
tics continues TO deprive the Pacific
coast of the naval stations it's impor-
tance demands. Navy people particu-
larly deplore the loss of the San Pedro
base and the San Diego training sta
tion.
Aside from these two fundamental
weaknesses of policy shown by the
conferees' report, the matter OF the
reduction of personnel gives grave
concern TO friends of the navy. The
House bill provided for only 100, 900
enlisted men. This the Senate in
creased to 10000. and a comproniise
was finally effected on a basis of 106,-
600. II will be observed that, as
usual, the House had a shade the bet
ter of II. The original House bill
would have been disastrous, compell-
ing the laying up of at least four of
the bsttleships Of the first line.
II is wen-known fact that a ship
out OF commission deteriorates more
rapidly than one In service. and the