Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-22
Disarmament Conference
Was Nothing but Bunk for
Voters of j, ST. Former
Secretary Declares .
BY JOSEPHUS DANIELS
Secretary of the Navy in Wilson'S
CahiHetl

RALEIGH, n. c., May 20.-What
is the matter with the navy? That
is a question congress and the news
papers are asking and seeking an
sWer to as congress goes toward adj
tournament.
1t has been a series of calamltles
for the naVy-since the sO-called
disarmament conference compelled
it to scrap the ma gnificent capital
ships which would have given it SUI
premacy of the seas in big guns
and big ships Then followed the
disaster of the indefensible destruc
ton of a number of destroyers in
the Pacific. following close upon the
turning over of the naval oil re-
serves for exploitation to Doheny
and Sinclair 1t is in evidence that
Fall extracted the dough from Do
heny to the tune of 100000 in a black
hand satchel, but nobody mot even
Archie Roosevelt with his $4,000
salary has taken the Sin out of Sin
clair. But [ am not going to write
today about oil and the scandal of
the oleaginous trail. The grand jury
IS now functiOning and results may
iShment fit the crime.
Two resolutions in one day were
introduced in congress to find out
what is the matter with the navy.
another to ascertain why Britain and
Japan are Outbuilding the United
States. and another for a second in
ternational conference to take fur
Their bite at the cherry of reducing
n q
er does anybody accept the grand
5-5-3 flourish as little more than a
camOuflage while the American
navy's proud position was sacrificed
At the time it was magnificent ges-
ture and many people thought it was
a real step to reduction of armament.
1t was nothing but a gesture
Didn't Consult the Navy
NOW that months have passed, it
becomes apparent that no considera-
flon whatever was given to the ex-
pert advice of naval statesmen Not
even was Secretary DENLY allowed
to take part in the conference. And
the naval officers, who knew the
much-praised settlement was a farce
and blow to the American navy.
were bottled up. They were directed
to give figures asked and were not
invited or permitted to voice their
real feelings when the program they
had urged and helped to secure went
TO the junk-pile. If the general
board of the navy had spoken its
mind when Secretary Hughes was in
dulging in praisin9 the surrender and
calling it something wonderful. it
would have required asbestos to con
q IL of
men. When the Teapot Dome navaI
oil reserve was being given away,
real naval men were again muZzIed.
except the few who were ready to
lhJure the navy to court favor with
power. Walsh and Pomerene and
Roberts have not obtained the aid
from navy men to which they are
entitled, and which the rank and file
OF the navy would be glad to give.
The so-called disarmament or re.
ductlon of armament conference ac-
complished its purpose. 1t was not
called until there began q voice of
criticism that the United States was
doing nothing to prevent the recur-
renee of another war or to reduce
the military burdens of the world
Then toward the election wear of
succeeded In it's political purpose.
1t was "a good enough Morgan for
that e,ection. as ThurIow Weed
wo I'd have characterized it. For it
enabled the speakers for the admin
istration to point with pride to the
scrapping Of dreadnaughts (some so
per cent completed as q great
achievement. 1t was later to be dis
closed that there was no real end
of competitive naval building, anG
that the fleet maneuvers were dis
appointing partially because the
antiquated 12-inch gun ships had
| been kept and the 16-inchgu ships
of fast speed had been strapped. 1t
was q political Morgan. 1t was a
naval tragedy
Another Conference?
Another election is approaching.
The United States has officially done
little or nothing to reduce the cost