Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-13
Thursday, April IS. 1922.
COMMON SENSE AND THE NAVY

COMMON SENSE AND THE NAVY
People should not have forgotten
The Bryanesque bombast that MIL
uon men would spring to arms over
alsht. when there was nothing more
formidable than broomsticks for them
20 spring TO had they shown the In
cllnatlon. Especially should they re-
member that our boys at the front
suffered because we were not pre-
pared for the struggle which all far
seeing eyes had seen 10 be practical
ly inevitable. They should be quick
In the light OF recent war experience
10 detect the unreasonableness OF the
assumption that there never VIII be
another war; quick also.'to recognize
the fact that nothing could be more
lnsidiously designed to bring on an
other war than just such an assump-
ton and the consequent unprepared-
ness Inviting attack. and while they
may mlstrust the Judgment OF the
theorists Of tie prof ssicnal htaGs OF
tie army and navy. thinking IL preju-
diced In sorle degree and to do so
Ia not altUs,tntt m a.. r"h'c l'-
certainly should uisti,s' Ia " lions
of those who .cih y thout ir formation
and out VI sloppy rci V''sr'alisrn y
demagogy. Tiny shud.d -. t. r
hand, Other thir"s b iHg equal, rllcc
some comic Ece IN IL So who a''
known to pos = ;up.rot kno. Lodge
OF conditions and ar, fIoc to tcli the
truth.
The public is now fnvored with an
Offering OF that sort itl. Secretary
OF State IlDs. 5 respect naval
legislation. He knows what he IS
talking about and is not in a posi-
ton nor has interests such as might
fair answer. The head of the Navy
Department has asked for a personnel
bic persons connected with the iegis-
iatng end OF the Government, sone
Of those who perhaps wish for more
pork in the river and tarbor bill. to
say nothing Of the mushily inclined
who wovla hnvc IS !, iere thrw t. H.
wiillnr 20 '. 4 Va. 'D te 0.r Fa
Bsne.a Iht. VA Drr d f-t ~
peace On gi'rd. .sh II &c hi.
personnel 10 5000
Here Is part OF Secretary
Hughes letter in which he character
ICES this proposed reduction as poor
business and reflection uIon the
work of the Washington Conference:
Under this treaty the United
States - allowed noy % retain
eighteen capital ships. You sty that
you are advised by the Navy Depart
ment that the proposed reduction il,
personnel viii mean that not ex-
ceeding thirteen capital ships can be
kept IN commission. AS to this | am
not qualified ~ KIP SIS an expert
opinion. but ! have dIcs !oned Inc
naval cXIertS with whom the A,aer!-
can delegates cunsdlt.u uuiIng tie &C.
cent Conference. and whom we found
both accurate and In sympathy with
the principle of limitation by agree
ment. and | am advised that the pro-
posed number OF enlisted men Is far
below the Aumo,f required 20 Il ain
tain our Navy upon me basis con-
tempiatod by the treaty.
Manifestly Mr.. Hu"hos ia i.sir-
common sense whom r, caye.
From whatever point OF view It is
considered, the question OF appropri-
ate naval strength is a relative one.
IL was recognized in calling the re-
cent Conference that only sound basis
Tor enecting a reduction in naval
armament was through an agreement
among the naval powers which would
TX suitable limitations for their re-
spective navies in relation : each
o.he.
""hl' $40. ~ ....,. ... ,....-.
feren /: ' H.e a-.n.I g, 10 wise
poIcr - Gu t.. %.e- trespec+ive
ToWerJ? The ratification. Of tho Con-
ference treaties Is important, but It
10 no less important that the policy
which they defined should be adhered
10. BY agreement OF the naval Pow.
ers. construction programs were viz
fually abandoned and limitations were
hxed. II would be truly extraordi-
nary and manifest reflection upon
the work OF the Conference IL the
Navy OF the United States were re-
duced below the standard thus estab-
lished.
Il have been speaking Of existing
conditions. but what OF the future?
Upon what basis is the United States
TO enter future negotiations on the
subject OF naval armament? Are we
20 impair our existing relative
strength and accept an inferior posi-
fion? j should suppose that such a
proposition would require only to be
stated and that no one would defend
IT,, The United States in calling the
Conference. which has had such graf
Tying results. has shown that reduc.
ton can be effected by agreement. We
have reduced our Navy. but we have
kept our place. Great sums have
been saved through the agreed reduc-
TONS. but 10 cut under the agreement
ITSELF would be likely to prove. I be-
ieve. an expensive experiment"
No one knows better than doe. NJ