The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-12-16
PANAMA CANAL
WEAK POINT IN
DEFENSE ARMOR
United States Navy Crippled
by Lack of Bases and
Auxiliary Craft,
By WILLIAM PHILLIP SINMS
Times Staff Correspondent

PANAMA. Canal Zone. Dec. ia
sweeping investigation by Congress,
not alone Of whether the Navy is fit
10 fight. but of the whole broad ques-
ton of America 5 crippled sea power,
is regarded here as vital.
Naval bases, FOR instance, are as
much a part of sea power as battle
ships. and d thorough probe would
expose alarmingly large holes in our
armor. Panama Canal. key to our
entire plan of national defense. is at
least as vital as a fleet OF dread
noughts. yet It stands today ex-
posed TO destruction at both ends
and in the middle.
The Washington conference was
originally designed TO stop the race
for sea power, not merely 10 halt
competition IN battleships and air
craft carriers. The ratio Of strength
between Britain. the United States
and Japan was fixed. respectively.
at $50. but an investigation would
show that in actual sea power
America would tag along about half
as strong as Britain and distinctly
inferior 70 Japan. Deficiencies in
naval bases and naval auxiliaries are
what put her there.
Punch Counts
Battleships may he the backbone
Of the Navy Just rs a motor IS the
backbone Of an automobile But,
lust as a car IS of little use unless
the power OF the motor can be trans
mitted through the wheels TO the
ground. battleships are worth no
more than the maximum punch they
can deliver at the point where the
fighting Is most likely to take place.
Should Japan force the United
States into war. for examples a
powerful military and jingo element
In Japan at this moment is attempt
ing to do over Asiatic exclusion
the issue in all probability would he
decided somewhere near thar triangle
10 be found inside lines drawn from
Yokohama TO Manila 10 Guam to
Yokohama.
Get out the family geography
1AAA NUN a. up s0tf444E -ie-t".f NlaALtf@
from Hawaii. our nearest base. 5000
miles from California. and 5000
miles from Panama. exposed safe
way for nearly all our supplies.
Admittedly Japan could take the
Philippines and Guam without
much trouble, the Washington con
ference having left these Islands un-
rT1Fa.daH VE-F-s-r-r-+
Of disinterested British estimate. our
chances in a fight with Japan in
these waters would he about one 70
a hundred Not so re-asSurlng. YET
America Is as much in honor bound
TO defend the Philippines as she IS
Alaska
Even the Hawaiian base-farther
from Manila than Liverpool is from
New York-is unprepared for any
real emergency. Il is lacking in
docking facilities. stores AMI equip
ment. Panama Is so per cent under
defended. Though the very first
blow against the United States would
almost certainly be a coup 10 close
the Canal. And there is not a single
aAtl u4tF Nt1E altf " -tt-l % a4Hl+- t4L
Pacific Coast, from Panama TO Puget
Sound
Right Start
The Washington conference was
start IN the right direction. But
il I'D not 20 FAR enough.
Today the United States is in a
hole. Until the Washington treaty
expires or n revision can be OBJ
tanned making sea power. nor bat
tleship tonnage. the real basis Of
sea strength. or unless 8 brand new
deal all the way round can be had.
based on some effective world peace
plan IN which all the powers. inc.ud-
ing the United States. VIII join. it IS
imperative the whole question ~ the
state OF our national defenseS should
he closely scrufiuIZed hv C0ul.rnes