Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-09
HARDING SAYS
HERELIEVESN
PREPAREDNESS
But Safest Defense Lies in
Public Mind and World
Opinion.
HALTs WORKS ON FORTS
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.


and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
By FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9-President
Harding is not a pacifist. Prompt oc-
caston was taken at the White House to
remove any false impressions that may
have been aroused on that score by the
Presidents staten nt at the close Of the
conference that he "once believed in
armed Preparedness in his speech Mon
day at Continental Memorial Hall Mr..
Harding voiced the belief there is "a
better preparedness in public mind and
a world opinion"
Lest dreamers who would abolish
war should exploit that observation for
llIusory propaganda, the President lost
no time in taking the ground from under
them. 1t was declared that his utter
ance, was not the statement Of a pac-
inst. The President is far from be-
lieying In the complete abandonment OF
armies or navies. He does not think any
government in the world should neglect
It's defenses. Ali he meant to convey to
the conference in discussing prepared
ness, was his thought that the public
mind and world opinion can be elevated
to point which would constitute a bet
ter guarantee Of peace than large armed
preparedness"
PRESIDENT PLACES
HIMSELF ON RECORD.
President Harding seized the same op-
pcrtunity once again to place himself
squareiy on record against cuts in naval
personnel that would upset the "rela-
tivity" established by the five power
treaty. He pointed out the United States
could not maintain the 5-5-S ratio and
''the treaty navy" It now has accepted
If there is any drastic reduction Of per-
q nr
differences Of opinion as to Just how
many officers and men must be retained
10 maintain reasonable RELATIVELY" and
the President expects Congress TO pro-
pose "a very considerable reduction" He
hopes IN no event that 1t will 60 below
$4,000 men. Naval experts have stated
that the treaty navy" cannot be proper
~ manned with fewer than the existing
strength of 100000 and some even as
sert it cannot be done with fewer than
10000
Meantime President Harding is de-
termined TO give the promptest possible
effect to the naval understandings Amer
lea pledged hersAlf to carry out AS
commander in chief Of the United States
Army and Navy he ordered all pending
work on new fortifcations not very elab-
crate in character. stopped IN the Phil
ippines and IN Guam. simultaneously,
Secretary Weeks caused the War Depart
ment to hold up the shipment Of twenty
BON guns to the Philippines. They
were loaded on q transport ready for dis
patch 10 Manila. They now will be sent
10 insular outposts not included In the
fOrtihcauons status quo provision Of the
naval treaty.
CHECKS BUILDING OF
OF BATTLESHIPS.
President Harding also has instructed
the Navy Department to stop all work on
battleships and battle cruisers under con-
/ struction. except the nearly completed
Colorado and Washington, which are to
be completed ard retained as our quid
pro-quo for Jspan's Mutsu. The ships
thus "he,d Up" include the battleship
West Virginia, launched IN December; the
six battleships Of tne South Dakota class
(43. 200 tons, which, Ike the battle cruis-
ers, are on the way but not launched.
They are IN various stages Of prellmil-
nary construction-nOne more than % or
80 per cent. II Is those ships upon which
Uncle Sam has already spent $3.50 600
and which he stands ready TO junk IN the
cause. of naval Limitation.
The President emphasized that ne
American warship, built or building Will
be scrapped until the Senate has ratified
the conference treaties. He seems SD
premely confident ratification is in pros
pect, and in early prospect. The Prest-
dent makes no bones about saying he
expects" no delay. He has not yet made
up his mind whether he will send the
treaties TO the Senate with q printed mes
sage or go there and present them In per-
son. The Presidents mind apparently
will not be made up on the score until
he receives the official report Of the
American delegation on the work Of the
conference. That now is being prepared
/ by Secretary Hughes. who was the re-
cipient Of warm congratulations from his
Cabinet colleagues today at their first
gathering since the conferences close
Copyright, 1922, by Public Ledger Com
/ pany.