The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-09-16
NAVAL QUESTIONS
riends' Peace Committee,

Friends Peace Committee,
Tax reduction may be the hope OF
the American voter, but it is not the
hope of the American admiral. Ii
the Springfield Republican is right
in it's editorial belief that naval men
should be thankful for the Geneva
Naval Conference because it is like
ly to lead to an increase in the
American navy, the American tax
payer will equally have cause to re-
greet it.
That the United States must build
cruisers at once is the opinion of
naval men. That fourteen big ten
thousand ton cruisers, in addition to
the eight already authorized, must
be completed within the next five
years is their plan. These cruisers
cost at the very least $10,000,O0O
each. This program means at best
an increase of S28,0O0,00O a year in
naval appropriations, not counting
the additional men needed to man
the new ships.
For this reason, taxpayers and
politicians who have been basing
their plans on economy and tax-re
duction, are beginning to tighten
their belts.
Whether the belts are being tight
ened for famine or for fight re-
mains to be seen. 1t is human ma
ture to fight before you starve
There is unquestionably great oppo-
sition to the idea of increased naval
appropriations.
In the first place, the American
public is beginning to realize that
the British Empire may have forty
six cruisers, but only four of them
are modern 10000 ton ships. Thir-
ty-nine are of less than $500 ton
displacement and only three are OF
the $500 ton Omaha class OF which
the American navy has ten now in
commission.
In the second place, the American
public is beginning to realize that
the most futile means of seeking Sc
curity is to get into competition in
bodybuilding with any nation.
Such navy races end disastrously
The American of good sense is more
Interested in preventing war than in
winning it.
The American public also is ask
ing why the United States needs as
many cruisers as England. Our pos.
sessions are more compact; our food
supply does not come over long sea,
voyages, but from our own rich con-
tinent. Let England build as many
cruisers as her taxpayers will stand
for and her naval experts" can per-
suade them into building; why
should we spend money because Eng.
land does? says the average property
owner in the typical American com,
munity. We want peace with Eng.
land; we don't care who has the big
gest navy.
In case the Big Navy people in
England and America succeed in
winning the first round in Pertinent
and Congress this winter, and in Sc.
Surfing increased appropriations
each nation will be showing the
other why increases in navies are
more necessary in the future. For
America will see the increases in the
British feet, and Britons will see the
increases in American fleet; and
each will see that many more reasons
for further building by his own ma,
ton. England and Germany went
down that road to the World War,
which pretty well ruined both.
For these reasons it seems likely
that, both in EnglAnd and the United
States there will be determined op
position TO enlarged naval programs
during the coming winter. Good
business and good neighborship both
counsel care in this direction