The Washington times., 1921-02-20
URGES NAVY TO.
PACIFIC
Admiral Pullman Believes Fleet
Should Be Concentrated on
Western Coast.

Immediate concentration of the
American fleet in the Pacific, where
il can be ready for action In case OF
an emergency" was urged by Rear
Admiral William +. Fullam yester-
day before the Senate subcommittee
on naval affairs.
There is no nation in Europe that
wants to go TO war with US" Admiral
Fullam told the committee. The dan
ger is in the Pacific"
The whole trend OF Admiral Full
lam's testimony. as well as that OF
other high naval officers VINO ap-
pesred with him speaking Tor a navy
second to none" indicated their serious
apprehension Of the situation In the
east and their anxiety that the navy
shall be in a position TO strike swiftly
and surely should an emergency occur
Following closely upon the state
ment made Thursday in the House by
Congressman Miller OF Washington
urging the fortificatiOn OF san iran
cisco, Seattle and Los Angeles and
other important coast cities, because
Japan is preparing for war win the
United States, and their exposed con-
dition invites attack" the testimony
of the officers left the impression
that the relations between the two
countries have. reached critical
stage.
The division Of the fleet with half
in the atlantic and half in the Pa
cihc as at present ~ blunder
worse than reprehensible. ana that
only sophistry could defend IL.
"lt is folly to say that QUE bases In
the Pacific are insufficient TO main
tain our fighting forces" he declared.
eff we cannot maintain them there
now in time OF peace. how in the
name of common sense can We nope
to maintain il there in time OF war?
Admiral Fullam said further that
those who justified the splitting OF
80 fleet b. the existence of the Pan
anna canal as allowing quick mobili-
zation in either ocean are following a
blind policy. a few bombs. he said,
might block the canal. and recogniz-
ing it's strategic Importance il would
be the first place on which the enemy
would center his attack.
II think the whole fleet should be
moved to the Pacific the admiral
stated. II want it there ready for
action in case of an emergency"
Admiral Fullam was called before
the committee to, present his views
on the suggested naval construction
holiday and the future of the battle
ship in view of the tremendous de-
vclopment OF the submarine and air
plane as engines of warfare. While
making it plain that he nowise favor.'
the scrappng Of this class of ships.
he asserted that the building program
might be safely suspended for a short
time until their efficacy is determined.
Admiral Fullam's statements were
disputed by Admiral r. Il. CoontZ.
chief Of naval operations: Admiral
Charles V. McVay. chief of ordnance.
and Capt 4. r. Craven. chief of the
navy air service. They protested
strongly against any interruption
whatever i'm the building program.
although. they admitted the weight of
admiral Fullams argument for more
submarines and aircraft, and
stressed the need of additional appro-
priations for their construction.
In speaking for a brief cessation in
the work on the battleships the navy
is now building in order to ascertain
whether or not the advent of the
submarine and airplane has materially
affected their efficiency, Admiral
Fullam said:
I'VE find that with - dreadnaughts,
800 destroyers, and 10 scout cruisers
our navy viii stand next to that of
England; il will be at least 80 per
cent stronger than that of japan, and,
emitting Great Britain, will be more
powerful than the combined navies OF
all Europe. In the face of these facts
it cannot be truthfully said that in
suspending work on five battleships
and six battle cruisers. we are advo-
eating weak navy, inadequate for
national defense. On the contrary,
suspension of work temporarily on
these vessels will safeguard us
against a policy that will produce a
weak navy, as the only return to the
expenditure of hundreds of millions
Of dollars"