Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-30
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

~
~ latest type of superdread-
~ naught-is costing Uncle Sam
to build between $35,0oo.ooo
and $40.OO0,O00. Such a vessel IS
costing John Bull and the mikado
similar sums, though probably not
quite so much as it costs Uncle. SAM
who appears to spend more for what
he gets than any other government.
The agriculture appropriation bill
for the next fiscal year, which has
just passed the House, carries total
of approximately S33,000.000, or not
quite the price of single battleship.
This comparison is not made to dis
parage the battleship, but merely to
indicate what a tremendous saving
may be possible to this country, and
to other great nations of the world
now debt-ridden. if some kind OF
agreement can be reached whereby
the naval programs can be reduced.
The agitation for a reduction OF
ornaments, so as to ease the bur-
dens of the taxpayers of this and
other countries, has reached large
proportions. In fact, it is difficult
to find any one willing to oppose
a reduction of ornaments. though
there are plenty to scott at the sug-
gestion as impracticable. The most
concrete suggestion put forward so
far. it appears, is that for reduc-
ton of naval ornaments, or, at least,
a reduction of the building programs
Of the naval powers, in accordance
with the resolution offered by Sena-
tor Borah of Idaho and now pending
in the Senate, with favorable re-
port from the Senate foreign rela-
tions committee.
Most Effective Ship Sought.
Whether this suggested plan for
holiday in naval construction comes
to anything or not. there is on foot
proposal that seems to many the es-
sence of common sense. If the Unit
ed States is to have a navy big enough
to fight the world. or any part of 1t,
that navy should be the most effective
that can be produced in the Light OF
the lessons Of the great war. And
that is just what the Senate is pro-
posing to bring about. A resolution
of Senator Borah's. adopted last week,
directs the Senate naval affairs COM
mittee to report whether 1T is sound
policy to suspend our naval building
program for six months, so that a
full Investigation may be~had as to
what constitutes q modern lighting
navy.
Before guns for gunpowder were in
vented. 500 or 500 years ago. and come
into general use, men used. to cover
themselves with armor plate-that Is.
those men who>nad money enough to
iuuy the armor. So clad. they could
ride roughshod over hundreds OF other
men without armor. But gunpowder
nut an end to the knight in armor.
and incidentally to the feudal system
In war on the sea there was de-
yeIoped in the last century kind OF
marine knight-the battleship-wear-
ing heavy armor. And because ship
could carry heavy armor. which
man could not. the battleship was ef-
fective in the age Of gunpowder. But
now comes the age Of the high ex-
piosive. that makes gunpowder look
a "piker' and armor plate OF little
avail. Added to this Is the develop
ment OF the submarine. with it's dead
ly torpedo, and the aircraft with their
no less deadly bombs. To not a few
experts who have gone into the sub
icct it looks as though the day Of
the heavy armored vessel is as surely
gone as was the day of the armored
knight when gunpowder put in its
appearance.
- Whether this be fact or not. the
Senate proposes now to get light on
the subject before it goes ahead with
appropriations TOR any more SsS.O0o,-
. GvV battleships.
Building Programs In Progress.
The United States is now engaged
on q building program Of sixteen
modern battleships. with. Of course,
,he lesser vessels that 60 to make W
the naval units Of the DAY. Japan, II
ia reported, has alternative building
programs, consisting Of two units Oh
eight battleships each. with tour oi
the latest type cruhisers attached te
each unit, or Of three units Of eigh'
ba,tleships with two cruisers at
tached to each. Great Britain, tht
third great naval power, has sus'
pended its naval building program
while its naval experts are exhaus'
.ive,y considering what is most ad
xisable In the way Of naval construc
eion In the light of the lessons OF tht
var. Not q single capital ship. 1t II
reported, has Great Britain laid dowI
since the armistice was signed. Thu
does not mean. however, that she Il
not giving attention to the develop
ment of aircraft and submarines
Japan. it is said, has under construc
ton now Ave great battleships, SOM
of which are being built in England.
Senator Borah, who has taken tn
lead in the effort to bring about som
agreement between the three grea
naval powers for a reduction In nava
programs, Is not laboring under tn
belief that world disarmament Is i'm
minent or practical at this time. NJ
matter how desirable. The Idaho sen
ator has been in favor of stroni
navy for the United States. unless /
can be agreed that the other power
will curtail their navies.
Japan's Purpose the Puzzle.