The Washington times., 1921-06-24
CUT IN BIG navy
PLAN IS MENACE
TOENT|RE NATION
lc,ontinued from First page }

sort of tai<e-'em-or- leave EN- arr. no
doubt he was exceedingly desirous OF
getting liberal appropriations, but u
is certain he has not turned nsno
to get them"
This may be a sort of reaction from
the policy OF the last administration.
which seemed to think that Congress
existed only 10 do the bidding or the
executive. III so II is one more weak
ness In Government which we owe 70
Mr.. Wilson. For unquestionabiy had
the President and Secretary OF the
Navy taken the active interest IN
rushing the cause OF great navy
the present situation would not pc
so full OF menace to the nation.
For II IA full OF menace. The Pres
,dent himself must not be wholly blind
10 that fact, for II is but few days
since he said gravely that the present
moment was not propitious for dis
cussion of general disarmament or the
general reduction In armament. Yet
proceeding by itself the United States
IL about TO begin a decided reduction
of armament, military as we'll as
naval.
The very day that our newspapers
carried the news OF the slashing OF
our naval expenditures by the con-
ference committee we read OF Lloyd
George declaring that any possible
limitation OF armament cannot be
carried 70 sea power. On that he
holds the very life OF the United
Kingdom, as also of Australia and
New Zealand, indeed the whole ot
the empire. depends"
We have our dependencies no less
widely separated from Washington
than are the British colonies from
their home capital. But Great Brit
ain Is going to protect It's scattered
children In the only way possible.
namely with a mighty navy We
are to let ours trust to luck.
Does that seem an overstatement?
Our naval problems having to do
with outlying dependencies will arise
mostly in the Pacific. What has this
Congress done TO make us formidable
in that ocean which win Inevitably
be the scene OF future naval wars.
ITEM DRoPPEp FROM BILL.
The most important forward step
proposed for naval development In
the Pacific was the plan for the
establishment of a base at Guam.
Naval officers. schooled I'm strategy
and OF the highest professional at
tsinments, have declared the forma-
liOH Vi huti n Oacts chfohEts ttieh'af
absolutely essential to our control Of
the Pacific.
But In the contest between House
and Senate this Item has been
dropped altogether from the bill.
senator Poindexter clings to the for
lorn hope that a separate bill may
be carried through the House later
for the attainment of this end, but
there are few who share this optim-
ism. SO far as this Congress goes.
Guam. which is without value to us
save as a naval base. will be left IN
Its present incomplete and largely
defenseless state. an easy prey to any
nation that might seek, TO snap IL up.
and even II retained, without value
as a naval base because destitute of
| needed equipment.
II is probable that the completed
report OF the conference committee
will go TO the House by Tuesday of
next week. No opposition is expected
there. but II is easy to see how
some unexpected obstacle might pre-
vent immediate consideration. The
fiscal year closes June 30. This fact
will be used TO hasten action. and
TO avert possible amendments in the
direction of larger appropriations. In
short. the nation is presented with
the spectacle OF legislation OF abso-
lutely incalculable Importance being
rushed TO enactment because pro-
longed delay in committee has ex-
hausted the time for deliberation.
Whether anything can be done at
this belated moment to avert threat
ened disaster to the navy is more
than doubtful.
The richest nation In the world.
we invite attack from predatory RI
walls.
CRIPPLE ONLY WEAPON.
stant peril OF having some debtor
seek to adjust his account by the
tribunal OF f-e and sword.
Next to Great Britain the most ex-
posed. because of the wide extent OF
our seacoasts and the distant dis
persion of our dependencies. we are
crippling the only weapon of defense
upon which a nation so situated can
rely.
This is being done. not yet quite
consummated but narrowly approach
ing contamination, by this Republican
administration and Congress in the
name of economy. This plea 10 un-
worthy of the pettiest of politicians:
IL is incredible that IL should appeal
to those who have attained leadership.
For IL anything was demonstrated
during those bitter years that sue
ceeded 1914. IL is that the most reck-
less OF all extravagance is to be un-
prepared for war. The So. 900 900 that
that the House has saved over the
Ganata aatiTnates xyauId vapish in n