Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1922-04-10
Proposal to
Slash NAVY
Under Fire
Bill to Cut Strength to $1,000
Men and 6,356 Officers.
Attacked in Minority Re.
port Of Committee.
$4,000 Personnel Urged

W Nsshihsloh, NpIh ~ NC pro-
possl OF the house appropriations
committee Tor a navy IN 1923 OF o7,'
600 men aud 6.5So officers was vleof-
oui'y attacked today IN minority
report signed by five republicans and
one democrat and in statements IS.
sued by Representatives Btiuen oi
Illinois and MeAr,hur. Oregon. re.
publican members OF the house naval
committee.
4 reduction OF the naval forces OF
,pie United States 10 the extent
recommended by the committee
would ignore the basic naval policy
set down By the arms conference.
the minority repor, declared. assert
ing that an enlisted personnel OF
10000 with 6,0O0 apprentices would
be necessary to keep the United
States abreast OF Grea, Britain and
ahead OF Japan.
Representative Britten said II the
bill had been framed by British and
Japanese delegates with the intention
oi wrecking the American navy. they
could not have more deliberately re-
dutcd the United States TO third
rate power" while Representative
Macarthur said canvass he had
made gave him hope oi the adoption
OF an amendment providing Tor sO.-
600 men.
In Third Place.
For the. first time in its history"
said the minority report filed by
six members OF the appropriations
committee. this country has adopt
ed naval policy. II means equal
ity with the -trongest. II that pol
icy is now disrcearded b. adoption
ct the naval bill We will sink to
the rank of ,hird-ra,e naval DOW
or with little voice in any future
world councils.
NO one doubts that the potential
superiority of the American navy
was the controlling factor IN the
negotiations Of the rcccnt confer
cncc. Had our delegates negotiat-
ed a treaty that placed this country
below Great Britain or Japan in
naval strength. they would have
been denounced as tra;.ors-not a
single vote Of the senate would have
been recorded in its favor-yct this
bill proposes to place the country Ill
that very position"
- The report nas signed by Repre-
.enNsAiyes Tinkham, Massachusetts,;
arc.Pennsylvania: Wason, New
Hampshire; Masee and Hustled. New
York, republicans, and Gallivan,
Massachusetts,, democrat.
Ignores $50 Ratio.
"The underlying principle OF
which, in the future, the strength
OF our navy must be determined is
its strength III relation to Great
Britain and Japan" the report said.
This is the policy of the 5-5-3 ra-
ito, that is equality with Great
Britain and s-3 Of the strength OF
Japan. The bill ignores this basic
policy and bears 10 reference to the
other powers Whose strength must
determine our proportion IN this
ratio.
This bill is an attempt to disre--
gard the navies of Great Britain and
Japan, TO give us the smallest force
OF the three. and to establish a prin-
ciple for which no responsible states
r,an in the worlds history has ever
stood-the principle of limitation of
armament by example.
The provisions of this bill are not
only in opposition to the basic naval
policy of the country, but are i'll op-
npsition to the views OF President
Harding, Secretary Denby, Assist
ant Secretary Roosevelt, the chief of
naval operations, the comrnander-in-
-hiet of the fleet. the general board
and Of every officer that has been
called III the hearings"
Plans Of Japan
Japan. the minority declared, con-
,cmplated an enlisted strength of o.
2s2, (which is over 1000 more than
allowed our navy"
Under, the 5-s-5 ratio it added,
'we should have 10000 as compared
Mdh Great Britain and $4,000 as
compared with Japan"
Prospects Of an amendment be-
ing added to the 1928 naval bill pro-
viding for 10000 enlisted men are ex-
cellent," Representative Macarthur.
Oregon, also republican member OF
the committee said, adding that his
rredid1on was made after canvassing
the house membership,
If the appropriations committee
continues this policy of attempting to
legislate by withholding funds for
the proper activities of the govern
ment." said the Oregon member,
there will soon be revolt among
house members and the present sys-
tenn of centralizing all appropriat-
ing power in one committee will be
sbandoned