The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-04-15
HARDING WARNS
OF BIG NAVAL CUT
President Asks For More Than
$1,000 Men.
CHEER MISS ROBERTSON
Oklahoma congresswoman Refuses to
Support "smaII Navy" Program ana
PIeadsr Personnel Be Adequate.

WASHINGTON. April 15.-Presiden'
Harding in letter read to the mouse
urged that the naval supply bill pro-
vide for more adequate enlisted
force than $1,000 as fixed by the ap
preparations committee.
The president said he would De
greatly disappointed as he knew the
country would be, if the enlisted per
sonnel was reduced below $4,000, the
figure which has been proposed by the
big navy" group.
While the decision must lie with
congress, the president said he could
only repeat formally what he had sald
informally that he was persuaded II
would not be wise TO make so drastic
a cut as proposed in the house bill.
The letter, addressed to and read to
the house by Representative Long
worth, of Ohio, said that navy OF
67 900 men might be reached ultl-
mately, but THE trend toward peace
and security ought to be more firmly
established before going beyond the
Limitations to which we were gladly
committed at the international confer
ence."
The president. while not doubling
the good faith of tie committee ma
iority,' said he must believe in the
good faith of the navy and naval ad-
viSerS, who declared very amphatically
il was impossible to maintain within
the proposed appropriation the stand
ard set for the navy at the confer
rnce and which was proclaimed to the
world
The presidents letter was presented
in the midst Of debate in the house on
an amendment to increase the person
nel from $1,000, as provided in the
bill, to $4,000.
During the debate on the bill Miss
Alice NJ Robertson, of Oklahoma, the
only woman member of the house,
made a ten-minutc speech, declaring
women as advisers to the arms confer
ence delegation, had nelped to fix the
:j-;,-3 ratio, below which she as q
woman thought congress should not
90 in fixing the enlisted strength of
the navy. This remark, taken by the
bloc favoring an $4,000 maximum as
endorsement of their stand, brought
Il round of cheers. ~
Announcing she had just received
orders" from the American AsSocia-
lion of University Women to support
the small navy" program, Miss Rob
ertSOn attacked the organization as
the most powerful lobby in Washing
tom and declared she did not intend
70 heed the associations ''orders."
Miss Robertson sought recognition
while debate was at white heat and
took her place in the well before
the speakers dais. She was dressed
in black, her white hair done up in
knot on top of her head. Her whole
appearance was one of motheriy sim
plicity and neatneSs.
Miss Robertson pointed out that in
the arms conference this country
could have had first place, but con-
sented to be placed on an equality.
And l for one" she added emphati-
cally, "am one woman who is never
willing to see US yield that equality"
At this members jumped to their
feet and shouted. Many hurried to
grasp her hand when she went to her
seat Miss RObertson's speech came
at what many believe the psychology
cal moment for getting enough
strength in the house TO vote $4,000
men.
Reference to British enlisted figures
was made during the reading Of the
bill by Representative Green, of Iowa,
who declared naval intelligence oftic-
ers did not have the facts or else did
not give them to the appropriations
committee.
THE British enlistment total of 98,-
500 was given in the British parlia-
ment on March 16." said Mr.. Green,
"and that was the figure stated in the
committee report. 1t has repeatedly
happened that wrong information has
been given to the house by the navy
department"