The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-05-14
A Brief for Sea Power


GHE ECLIPSE OF AMERICAN SEA
POWER BY Capt Dudley w. Knox,
u. B N. American Army and Navy
journal, Inc.
Ho informed students of naval
affairs It has been clearly
apparent that the treaty re-
sulting from the Washington Con-
ference on the Limitation of Arma-
ments produced these four negative
results. negative in that they worked
against the sea power of the United
States and any real limitation of
ornaments. They are: Definitely
giving first place in naval strength
to Great Britain; falling to place
limitations on the building of all
classes of ships other than battle
ships, battle cruisers and airplane
carriers; placing no restrictions on
fitting merchant vessels as potential
cruisers; and taking from the
United States the power to defend
the Philippines.
It Is the purpose Of Capt. Knox's
little volume to show that the above
statements are facts to the end that
any American who did not under
stand the outcome Of the Conference
on the Limitation Of Armaments
may now do so through reading his
pages. American altruism, particu-
larly in relation to effectins a world
peace, had much to do with bring
ing about the results above summa-
rized, for, as Capt. Knox writes, Our
people were prone to consider ma
tional interests as subordinate to the
promotion Of world peace. Not en-
Pertaining the same illusions as to
the possibility Of peace permanence,
other peoples could not help but con-
slider that question as secondary to
the advancement Of their national
interests" And advance them they
did, won their way with most OF
them, leaving the United States ito
give I'D a certain first place with
NO close second) In sea power and a
positive ability to safeguard Ameri-
can interests the world overland
furthermore volunteered to do so at
stupendous financial loss to herself"
Capt. Knox shows how, In the
United States agreeing-at the in
sistence of Japan-not to increase
its Notifications or naval facilities
In the Pacific. our country weak
ened its naval strength materially,
for naval bases are most impor-
tant element in naval strength. In
fact, he says. "this condition re-
suits in doubling the strength Of the
Japanese navy. relative to our navy"
and shows that the familiar 5-5-3
standard does not exist as between
the Japanese and the United States.
"the true ratio for operations in
yolving the defense of the Philip
pines was really about 10 to 5 against
America Such inferiority denies us
the power to send our fleet to the
Ear East" On the other hand, as
he points out, "the ability Of Eng
land to transfer her fleet to the
China Sea and to maintain it during
operations there, is but slightly i'm
paired by the agreement"
This text plainly shows that in
spite of the limitations imposed on
battleship strength, rivalry in build
ing submarines and auxiliary may
run into very large figures indeed
and the competitive pyramiding is
likely to continue on an expensive
SCALE" and competition along these
lines may easily be as expensive as
when capital ships and airplane car
riers were not limited" The fact
that the conference did not place any
limitations on aircraft is discussed
but only In a general way, although
this is a subject that demands much
more thought on our part as a ma
ton than II has received up to the
present. Capt. Knox is of the opin-
ION that the outstanding effect Of