Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-27
Rcductionists Running Amuck

I + Congress takes into account public SEN
l timent as we believe it to exist, there
will be no blind slashing OF the appropra-
lions for the national defense. There will
be no unreasoning Gripping of either the
naval or military establishments OF the
United States. Instead there will be some
logical reductions in the army and navy to
meet the necessity for economy and to carry
into effect the spirit of the Washington
conference.
Little army and little navy" elements
shave figured in Congress for a generation.
They have stood consistently in the way OF
the development of all ambitious national
defense programs. except. perhaps that
which the war itself forced upon the nation
Now that the war is over and there is n
Worldwide movement toward gradual dis
arma ment. these contingents have come for
ward once more demanding the reduction of
military and naval budgets TO point that
will leave the country almost without armed
forces
II il were literally true that disa rmament
were progressing in Europe and elsewhere.
II land forces and naval forces were being
cut down and the enormous OUTLAWS for
armies and navies were being materially de-
creased. there might he some ground for the
new campaign inaugurated in the American
Congress. This country might with safe
~. curtail its own expenditures for national
security.
The fact is that while the leading navies
or the world have been limited by nterna-
tional agreement. they have been reduced
practically not at all y few score OF obso-
lete ships are to be junked and some more
uncompleted ships 10 be scrapped But
the British and the Japanese navics: so
far as their potential lighting power is con
cerned. remain not only at the present
strength, but are to be increased The
British will add two more great super
dreadnoughts TO their fleet and the japanese
one. America will add TWO more ships OF
the same type 10 its sea power
There is no limitation much less reduc-
ton, in the submarine forces of any power
OF in the aircraft OF any power and very
little reduction in number of auxiliary craft
OF any power. Nor is there any agreement
tact or expressed, for the limitation or the
reduction Of the land forces of any nation
east or west. The French. the British. the
Russian. the Polish and the japanese armies
are to remain as large as any one OF these
nations wish to maintain
In view OF all this il would be worse than
short-sighted for the United States TO cut its
military and naval appropriations to a
point where the army would exist merely
as police force and the navy as a coast
patrol. This country needs no great stand.
ing army in peace time. but il should have
the skeleton OF an organization which might
he expanded swiftly and effectively. in case
OF emergency. Ii needs no navy of over
whelming superiority. but il should have sea
power second 10 no other
Inc country now has such an army and
such navy. and they are assets of vital
Importance TO the nation. Until there are
further International agreements reducing
aIl ornaments throughout the world the
american peopl" should resist the surrender
OF their defensive weapons