Evening star., 1925-10-27
The Navy.

Americans today pay Just tribute
to Uncle Sans first line Of defense,
the Navy one hundred ana fifty
Years ago-on October -. iT15. IL he
eXa"t-a bill to authorize the coustruc-
tion of the tir~t American WarShips
was introduced il the Continental
Congress. The history of The Navy
during this century ami q half has
been glorious. Deeds Of daring. Of
heroism. showing the courage and
morale of officers and men, sparkle
among the pages Of Il tale that from
the beginning has been Il long record
IF duty Well performed. of the protec-
iion of American coasts and American
commerce. Of the advancement OF
American principles of liberty. justice
and peace with honor in the ports of
all the world. on the sea, under the
sea, and finally in the air, the brave
traditions OF the Navy have been
steadfastly maintained from the days
of John Paul Jones to those of Perry,
OF Decatur, of Farragut, Of Dewey.
Of Rodgers
The Navy grew greatly during the
participation OF the United States in
the World War. At the close of that
conflict this country had entered upon
a building program that in a few
Years would have given ii a navy un-
rtvaled in power. Then came the
Washington conference on limitation
Of armaments and the problems of the
Pacific Ocean. An agreement waS en-
tered into with the great naval powers
of the world TO limit the number Of
capital ships, the United States taking
the lead in this effort to halt the race
IN competitive armamentS which bur.
'.ened the peoples OF the earth Tn
DER that agreement a ratio was estah-
iished for naval strength. the So-caIled
"--'--31, .i3--i.,5 ratio. with the
United States and Great Britain at ).
Japan at 8, and France and ItaIv at
1.70. No limit was fixed for the num-
Der of auxiliary craft. the cruisers,
the submarines, the deStroyers. etc.
But the principle was established that
the United States Navy should be
equal in strength to any other navy
In the world. II is q principle that
Should not be forgotten or abandoned.
To-day the foreign commerce Of the
United States is greater than ever he-
1ore. Taking into consideration the
difference in the purchasing price of
the dollar, the foreign commerce of
ms country has Increased - per cent
over what II was just prior TO the war.
At that time not more than 10 ner
cent OF the foreign commerce of Amer
lSa was carried in American merchant
men. Today about 40 per cent is
transported in vessels fiyine the
American flag. Making the same al
loWanCe Tor the change in the yalue
Oh the dollar, the appropriations for
the American Navy are about II per
cent higher than they Were before the
last war. These appropriations for
the Navy are enormously referred to
sometimes as the cost Of the NAVY.
They are really premiums paid by the
American people on a policy Of insur-
ance, protecting their coasts and their
commerce overseas. 1t is quite ap-
parent that the value of the risk"
mas increased much more rapidly than
the premiums" paid for protection.
The American Navy is a great in
strument to discourage aggression.
with the American flag farther flung
than ever before-in Philippines. in
Hawaii, in the Panama Canal Zone
IN Porto Rico-and with the Monroe
doctrine to be safeguarded always. the
Navy must be strong and efficient.
In conflict with the elements. the
wind and the water, the Navy has met
with reverses. But never was the
morale of the Navy higher than today.
In such conflicts the courage and abil-
ity of officers and men are tested and
whetted as on a grindstone The vic
tories have been countless for every
reverse that has been sustained.