Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-01
An Ample Navy,

An Ample Navy.
The American feet, under the terms
Of the London naval treaty, will be
ample to defend the United States, In
the opinion Of Rear Admiral H. Z.
Yarnell, chief Of the Bureau Of En-
cheering, in a report made to the for
eign relations committee This Is the
view of q naval ofiicer who has given
the most careful consideration to the
problem Of national defense over q long
period Of years. Admiral Yarnell does
not undertake to say that under the
treaty agreements entered into In
washington in 1922 and now in Lon
don the Navy would be sufficiently
strong to defend the Philippine Islands
from attack In the event Of war. He
does say, however, that the Navy IS 1t
stands today is not adequate TO defend
successfully the Philippines, and that
it has never been In such Q position
since 1898. Furthermore, Admiral
Ysrnell declares that the United States
would have to have q Navy twice as
strong a. the navy Of its enemy II 1t
were to be In a position to defend sue
cessfully the Philippines; that the
fertilization Of the islands would have
to be modernized, and that Guam
would have to be fortified as a second
base. He mentions other conditions,
too, which would have to be taken into
account.
One Of the arguments advanced by
the opponents Of the London treaty is
that, in the event of war, the Philippines
might fall. As Admiral Yarnell points
out, In the event Of war between the
United States and Great Britain, 1t is
to be expected that Canada would be
promptly occupied by the military
forces Of this country, and that the
British naval bases in the West Indies
and adjacent waters would be seized
by the United States. The British, de-
spite the probability that these reverses
might befall them In the event Of war,
have agreed to parity in naval strength
with the United States. They have not
demanded navy twice the size of the
American Navy. Arguments that q
nation, whether 1t be the United States
or another. must be In Q position to de-
fend successfully at all times its farthest
outposts, II successfully maintained,
would lead to ridiculous situation, with
the nations attempting to build their
navieS twice as strong as those Of their
possible opponents.
The United States in the event Of
war would undertake TO defend the
Philippine Islands, Just as 1t would I'M
dertake to defend It's merchant vessels,
though they be thousands of miles from
the shores Of this country. In war there
always enters the element of chance,
the undetermined factor Of human
equation. The German army was pre-
pared, and, under the estimates of its
leaders. was entirely capable Of march
ing to Paris and taking that city In
1914. Paris, however, was not taken.
SO much for estimates.
The United States Navy, II the Lon
don treaty is finally ratified. will be
adequate for the defense Of the United
States, Admiral Yarnell says without
qualification. That Is the point the
people of this country are particularly
interested in. Admiral Pratt, chief Of
naval operations. has declared that also
to be the case. Other high ranking
naval officers have expressed their dis
approval Of the treaty, advancing many
reasons for their position. The treaty,
however, has been the object of attack
principally by those who are opposed TO
any naval limitation. There is q group
which believes that the United States
should maintain an independent atti-
tude, building or not building naval
craft to suit its own tastes and desires
To this group the need for cooperation
by the United States In any movement
to limit armament in the interest Of
world peace does not appear. The sole
duty Of this country is to look after
itself and its people. in their view. The
duty Of any nation lies primarily in the
defense Of its people. But in this day
and age there is also the duty Of help
full cooperation and leadership in the
interest Of international peace. The
opponents Of all limitation would have
this country turn It's back on such
cooperation.