Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-04
NAVY BOARD URGES L. y.
CONTINUE RIIIDING SHIPS.

-
WtSllINGTON. Feb. 3.-Thc major
ship remains the basis Of sea power.
and those who argue that tho air
olnnc and tho submarine have sup
planted it are asking the country to
accept hopes for ACCOMPLISHMENTS
the Nayy General Board says In n
report to Secretary Daniels. made
public today.
TIL" general board. having kept In
touch with naval progress along
lines. says the report. "rcitcratcs ita
bolicf IN the bat.leshlps rs forming
IA" principal units OF the fleet With
out thcm the United states cannot
hone 10 cope with existing navics."
Urging thar equality In power be
the continuing naval policy OF tho
United States" the board says there
rs no thought Of iusti;u;lns inter
national competitive building" and
mat "a" other nation can. la reason.
take exception to such position"
1T cannot Justly be construed az n
challenge the report continues. "a
policy OF equal or substantially equal
ornaments may VOL tend to d!.nin-
al their growth and 20 Lessen the
danger OF sudden war
The report. signed by Ecar-Admi-
rai Charles j Badger. president. and
forinN "pmnauIt r-in-ch!.c Of the
Atlantic Fleet. was approved hy see
r.lary Daniels ana WAS transmitted
~ HIM to The senate Naval Commit
gee Tot ~ information In consider
NIX pending disarmament and naval
hoillny" resolutions.
Asserting mat the guiding polic..
hat hua shaped the genera! boards,
construction recommendations sine.
1903. was that OF eventually creating
a navy "Gua! Ia tn" strongest in tho
world. the board urges that no rest
period or limitation ~ armament" be
HErs"t 10 tv ino United states that
pu.d modify the great naval build
~ program o: 1876. now under con
siruciion. ia numbers. general types
% dntcs OF completion"
IN tHe future. AS at all times pre-
vi"us 10 IN" world war. We SHALL. IN
all probability. have to rely solely
unon our own state Of preparedness. -
"a- not" 81 warning the document
I sounded
= suspension OF work OF: the naval
building program for six months 10
allow experts to determine. in che
/ Ugh; ot the lessons OF the world war.
What types OF ships are most useful.
az provided In tho pending Borah
resolution. rs neither necessary nor
HdNisaolc.' the board asserts
Evcry new weapon Of orcnsc tina,
has threatened the supremacy of the
cap.tal ship has been mot by sue
crsSiul mode OF defense. the report,
declares. citing the development OF
ihe torpedo as an Illustration OF the
contention. The report points to the
development Of the submarine and OF
aircraft. and added that Invention
Viii provide means for meeting tho
future development o. thee weapons
ana they, like their dangerous pre-
dcccSsors. WI continue to be only
ndJuncts OF the feet"
Concluding with a strong argu-
m"ut for equality with the strong
est as the nations permanent naval
policy. the boards report asserted
That such a policy was directed
.gainst no nation or group OF nations
and was dictated on grounds OF ma
tional safety Pointing 10 the great
growth OF the American merchant
marine. the report emphasis that no
cations have ever been able to cs-
"bl.sh and maintain - large mcrch-
AMT feet without developing u navy
~ assist ana protect il.