The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-27
THE NAVAL RATIO

It now appears that the note of the Brit ish admiralty disclaiming any alteration in British battleships involving elevation of gun turrets and increase of range was not without definite purpose beyond that of mere desire to correct false impression. That purpose was evidently to forestall the carrying out of the American navy program looking to similar alteration in our own vessels. The American naval experts have testified that the British have been violating the spirit of the four-power treaty by mak- ing their present vessels more efficient than originally, and have advocated such pro- gram on our part as would keep pace with the alleged British program. Congress was sufficiently impressed with the showing to appropriate six and half million dollars for such purpose, but made the saving re- servation that the alterations should be made only on positive knowledge that the British program was as reported. The British de- nial, which our state department has an- nounced that it accepts as final and authori- tative now nuliifies the appropriation, and Chairman Madden declares that he will do all he can to prevent the alterations and the expenditure of the sum set aside for the purpose. It appears, thererore, that our naval officials have been placed in a posi- tion that makes it necessary either for them to prove their statements as to the British navy, or else to back down and fade out of the picture.
 Meanwhile, those who are watching the entire situation in thoughtful attitude per ceive that Great Britan's navy really is Uf hon Qd in raOccan dino own legitimate achievements along the same line. Great Britain is permitting no neg lect of her merchant marine The British merchant flag flies in every important port, and British active tonnage displaces more water than that of any other nation. The reason is two-fold. Not only is Great Brit ain primarily a commercial nation and in I need of merchant fleet on which she can rely at all times; but Great Britain as fore most naval power understands with convinc- ing clarity that her navy is useless without the support on an adequate merchant ma rine to carry troops and supplies. Formerly the same vessel that carried the soldiers could carry also most of their armament, but in these days when warfare involves the products of gll industries pouring out goods at a maxno of speed the merchant fleet is the only link between the army and its base of supplies.
 There is nothing in the articles of agree ment among the four powers to forbid the development of the merchant fleet. We need it in war, needed it so desperately that for a time during the great war we made every other activity secondary to that of turning out ships. Had Great Britain not been supplied with a capacious merchant marine which was at once set to the task of transporting our troops and supplies, we should not have arrived in Europe in time to save the day. If We ever involved in another war, merchant ships will perhaps be more than ever vital to our success.
 If we are not involved in another war, the merchant fleet will remain as permanent asset in time of peace, rendering us com mercially independent of foreign carrying service and putting into the strongest possible competitive position to sell our goods E in any foreign market. The money spent in establishing our steamship lines on a per- manent schedule would be fully warranted from a purely defensive and naval stand point, so that the service as merchant fleet in time of peace would be net gain to our industrial and commercial position. Let tradition and political prejudice give way to logic on this question, and the final guaranty of our merchant marines perma- ropco will he at once assured.