Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-11
DENBY'S REPORT

I'm the opinion of the department,
the secretary declared, the elevation
OF the guns will not in any way con.
travene the spirit or letter of thu
| treaty"
MIR. DENLY appended to his report E
special report signed by Captain +
Fl. Schofield of the Navy Genera
Board analysing in detail the objec.
tons which had been raised to the
change in elevation, with the conclu-
sion that these were wholly unsup-
ported by any fair Interpretation OF
the Treaty. Captain Schofield LISTED
five steps" as necessary in the ply
steal alteration of a turret to permit
the higher elevation, namely:
Increasing size of gun opening;
frightening the gun screw which
raises and lowers the breech; chang
ing position of ammunition hoists:
increasing strength of counter recoil
system; cutting away plates under
breech.
In none of these steps, it was de-
clared, was there involved any al
terra ton in the general type of mount
ing" which constituted the sole pro-
hiNition in the treaty affecting the
program.
1.-THE public is very generally I'M
der the impression" Captain Scho-
field continued, that the British ad-
miralty has stated officially that by
their Interpretation of the treaty II
would be illegal for us to change the
elevations, as proposed. No such con-
tention has ever been put forward Ly
the British admiralty, British govern
mcnt, or by any other official in any
government sigma tory to the treaty.
"The general intent of the treaty
was to grant to each power full right
to keep step with material and
scientific progress, subject only to
specific limitations. Nowhere is there
to be found a spirit of the treaty
which contravenes this right"
In addition to elevation of the main
turrets, the departments program
includes the installation of deck
sheathing as an additional defense
against air attack; adding of bills
ters' as defense against torpedoes
and the conversion of six coal burn
ing battleships to oil burners.
The approved budget of the navy
now includes $2,S50,000 for beginning
construction of three submarines au-
thorized in the 1916 naval act, Mr.
DENLY said, but he called attention
to. the lack of the navy in cruisers.
submarines and river gunboats.
1.-THE navy of the United States al
present does not equal in cruiser
strength either of the other two pow
ers signatory to the treaty." lie said
nor is the fieeteto be considered as
in any way balanced through lack of
this vital arm. The disparity be-
tween tn, cruiser strength of Great
Britain and that of the United States
Is so great that we can not hope for
many years to bring about anything
approaching equality with that pow
err.
"The navy of the United States is
so i'll balanced and so deficient in
cruiser strength that it would be put
at a serious disadvantage in major
operations of any kind. The power
of cruisers in offense and in defense
is a primary factor in naval strategy
Other than the 10 light cruisers, some
of which are authorized under the
1916 building program. some of which
are now completed and others rapidly
nearing completion, we are without
real cruiser strength. Vessels still in
service of the type of the Pittsburg
Denver and Salem are useful for
peace work but would be practically
without value in time of war. The
raiders that drive our commerce,
from the sea. that attack our trans
ports and supply ships. can never be
ovcrtakc1 unless we build cruisers to