Milford chronicle., 1928-06-08
NEW SHIPS FOR OLD
UNCLE SAMPS NEED

Uncle Sam must have new ships
for old, must make the necessary re
placements in his navy to keep it OF
par with the navies of the powers
of Europe, according to Flora A
Walker, chairman of the Nationa
Defense Committee of the Daughters
of the American Revolution, in &
vigorous article in the current issue
of the National Republic.
There was a time when the Am
erican people took the navy fol
granted" Mrs. Walker says. "With
sublime and child-like assurance we
thought of it as standing invincible,
between us and any foe. True enough
to most of us-in actuality, it was
something as nebulous as a fleet of
billowing clouds floating majestical-
ly across a summer sky. We had
never seen our navy-a fact that in
no sense lessened our trust in it's
protective powers.
To-day that faith is challenged,
the cherished vision shattered; we
are told all sorts of goblin-tales
about the navy and are urged to be-
lieve, whether we will or not, that it
is out for blood. Agencies have come
into being that make it their busi-
ness to confuse the public mind
upon all issues pertaining to nation
al defense.
"No longer is it deemed safe to
trust to a duly elected Congress to
guarantee the security of the nation
through adequate provision for the
of our defenses. These
once free agents of a sovereign peo-
pie are no longer free to make ce-
cisions and to act in the best inter-
ests of their constituencies without
first facing a barrage of protest and
misrepresentation from various
agents of confusion whose aims
merge in the one ultimate objective
the final demolition of our nation
II defense.
much has been said of subversive
in more recent times.
There seems to be widespread belief
hat these parasitic movements ere
If mushroom growth, and for that
'eason are to be ignored. In the
sense that some of them appear to
spring up almost overnight, that
Tiew is justified. However, it will
most likely be found, upon investiga-
ion, that what appeared to be a
lew and Independent organization is
10 more than a branch of some par
mt vine that has already stretched
is existence over a considerable
,eriod of years.
"Did we not scuttle 100000 tons of
ur capital ships at the only time in
ur history when we were in posi-
ion to attain parity at sea? Yet in
he face of this demonstration of our
ood faith and setting of the example
which was not followed by other ma
ions, prOpagandists have the unpar-
lleled effrontery to ask why we
hould build more ships!
''Why, indeed! Because we need |
hem, for one thing, and for another, |
ecause under the terms of the |
Washington treaty, whereby we de-
troyed thirty ships, fifteen of which |
7ere building, we are entitled to |
hem. We must substitute new ships /
or old. In course of time, as every
ne knows, old ships become obso-
etc. They must be replaced, or the |
avy will disintegrate. One nation
nay use foresight in these matters
yhile another may not. When in 1922 |
re scrapped new ships, others man
uvered to scrap ships which would
ave been destroyed in any event
ecause of their age.
"Show me a nation that does not
Ook to her defense and I'll show you
people who are held in contempt"
All is expensive in love and war.