The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1922-12-15
DENLY FOR NAVY
SECOND TO NONE.
Won't Ask Increase Now, but
Urges Building as Soon ss
Conditions Warrant.
NEED NON-CAPITAL SHIPS
Must Be Strong Enough to Guard Our
Commerce and Overseas Posses
sions-!nterferes With Training.
General Program Laid Down.

shington.-Because of the f1nan-
cial and economic situation, no recon-
mendations will be made to congress
this winter for an increase in the navy,
Secretary DENLY states in his annual
report to the President. But when
conditions warrant action our navy
should be made the equal of any
af1oat, the report adds.
"The following was adopted as the
fundamental naval policy of the Unit
ed States" says the secretary's report.
"The navy of the United States
should be maintained in sufficient
strength to support its policies and its
commerce and to guard its continental
and overseas possessions.
at is believed that this policy is
sound and not subject to question. 1t
should be true for all times and under
all conditions.
: Having in view the terms of the
treaty for the limitation Of naval
armament, it became necessary to
adopt a general policy as to strength
which would conform to the terms of
that agreement. While it is true that
the ratios adopted by the conference
were made to apply to capital ships
and plane carriers only, the depart
ment considered that the ratio OF
5-5-3 should apply to the relative total
strengths of the navies concerned.
at therefore adopted the following
general naval pociy:
"'To create, maintain and operate a
navy second to none and in conformity
with the ratios for capital ships estab-
lished by the treaty for limitation of
naval armaments.
This policy should hold until such
time as other powers, by their depart
ure from the idea of suspended COM
petition in naval armament, indicate
other procedure. Until such time the
navy of the United States may be
governed in naval strength by the
spirit of the capital ships ratios.
Otherwise it will be necessary appro-
priately to readjust our naval policy.
''In elaboration of the general policy
laid down above, a number of detailed
policies were prepared. A few of the
most important follows:
"'To make the capital ship ratios
the basis of building effort in. all
classes of fighting ships.
"'To direct the principal air effort
on that part of the air service that is
to operate from ships of the fleet.
"'To assemble an active feet at
least once a year for period OF not
less than three months.
"'To maintain an active personnel
afloat in conformity with the ratios for
capital ships established by the treaty
for the limitation of naval ornaments.
"'To maintain the marine corps per-
sonnel at strength sufficient to meet
current requirements.
"'To make every effort, both ashore
and afioat, at home and abroad, to
assist the development of American
interests and especially the American
merchant marine.
"'To create, organize and train a
Naval Reserve force sufficient to pro-
vide the supplementary personnel nee
essary to mobilize the feet and all it's
auxiliarieS.
"sTo make the Naval Reserve Sc
cure in it's status and organization as
a part of the navy and to guard it's
interests.
"'To cultivate a close association of
officers of the active navy and of the
Naval Reserve.
"'To give to the public all informa-
ton not incompatible with military
secrecy.
"'To have always in mind that a
system of outlying naval and CONNER
cial bases suitably distributed, devel.
opened and defended is one of the
most important elements of national
strength
"This policy should be accomplished
as soon as consistent with our eco
nomic situation"