Evening star., 1924-01-01

The naval program suggested by Sec
retary Edwin Denby has aroused all of
the ancient spirit Of controversy De-
tween the advocates of a big navy and
a little one. In addition the question OF
whether adoption of this program would
not nullify agreements of the Washing
ton naval conference has once more
been pressed to the front. Tho sugges-
ton that gun turrets in existing big
ships must be elevated, that many new
and high powered submarines. with a
needed up to $4,000 tons at least and
that eight 10,000-ton cruisers, gunboats
and an aviation program must be built
and arranged are held indicative in
many quarters as being certain to mark
the initiation OF another naval race,
while they are as warmly defended in
others as absolutely necessary for the
national defense. Altogether the naval
Secretary's report has initiated one OF
the war1nest discussions of recent
months and one which is only dwarfed
by the tax battle.
X !; x
The report is characterized by the
Detroit News as 'big navy one. The
Secretary does not recommend the con-
struction of the obsolete type of vessels
expressly forbidden in the arms treaty.
But he is for place near the front in
the new naval race of cruisers, sub
marines and seaplanes." Yet all that he
asks for 'is needed, if the fleet is to be
modernized insists the Portsmouth
Star. at will be money well spent.
Unless the guns of our fleet are to be
made equal in range to those warShipS
of other powers whose structures per-
nit extreme elevation we shall lose all
the advantage we might gain by the
employment of airplane scouts. 1t comes
down to a question of self-defense, re-
gardless of how friendly to this govern
ment may be the power whose warships
possess superior range to ours. The
Navy Department sees nothing in its
proposals that can fairly be called an
evasion or violation of the Washington
treaty 1t is guided solely by considera-
tions having to do with the national
defense. 1t must be conceded that its
position to the average layman appears
to be sufficiently strong to merit appro-
val of its program by Congress-
X X & X
Indorsing this latter view, the St.
Paul Dispatch emphasizes the fact
that "the state of the Navy, as dis
closed by Secretary DENLY, is not a
reassuring one. We hope that Con-
gress will give very careful and
sympathetic attention to the recon-
| mendations which he has placed be-
fore it," This suggestion has the un-
qualified approval of the Hartford
Times because I'VE want to be ade-
quately prepared for emergencies -
but the Times also feels rsometimes
one is tempted to believe that this
country cannot indefinitely go on
| evading responsibility and at the
same time insist on being treated
with great dignity. So many speeches
on the part of our highest authori-
ties on the dangers from other ma
| may be disheartening to a world
which used to look westward for
great things" The Bay City Times
Tribune. in insisting that acceptance
of the DENLY program will be in no
way an aping of the naval and
powers" emphasizes the peace time
| accomplishments of the Navy during
the past Few years." recalling the
i aid to Japan at the time of the earth
| quake, the relief of the Chilean
| TIDAL l-wave sufferers. rescue of the
Smyrna fire survivors and other deed:
| which show the great necessity OF
| keeping the feet on the seven seas.
THE expense Of naval competition
has been stopped" the Chicago
Tribune holds, so Congress should
enable the American Navy to keeT
the position to which 1t is entitled
/ The treaty is good il America keeps
| it's rights under 1t. 1t is bad II
America permits Navy weakness tt
result from lack of appropriations
L II Is not enough to have a stipulated
number Of battleships. The Zee