Evening star., 1933-10-27
Navy Day.

honor the memory Of Theodore RooSe-
welt, finds in the presidency today an
other Roosevelt who, the country re-
joices to think, is as thoroughly devoted
to the cause of adequate American sea
power as his illustrious kinsman and
predecessor in Office. At no time since
the World War has naval preparedness
been an issue to which the people and
Government of the United States
should give more aSsiduous attention
than in the present era OF aggravated
and incalculable international condi-
tions.
For twelve years this country has done
its utmost to promote rational reduction
and limitation of naval ornaments. The
existing treaties of Washington and
London would never have been negotiat-
ed except for Americas sincere interest
in bringing about progressive decrease
in the costs of naval ornaments and a
corresponding lessening of the heavy
burdens imposed upon taxpayers every
where. 1t is not Americas fault if the
world still staggers under the expense
of so-called swollen ornaments"
In 1885 the principal naval powers
Great Britain, Japan, France, Italy and
the United States-are to meet in con-
ference again to review the naval sltua-
ton as it will exist at the end OF 1886,
when present agreements expire. 1t IS
estimated that by December 81, 1886,
the United States Navy will be short OF
its permitted strength in under-age
ships by 204, $3.50 tons, even taking into
consideration the new $23S,0OO 900
building program about to be financed
out of funds from the Public Works
Administration.
Japan at the end of 1886 will be al
most exactly at its treaty limit. Great
Britain is also expected to attain ap-
proximately full treaty strength, al
though it's ships as actually projected
to date would leave it short by 1888
tons. There is at the present moment
an active agitation afoot in Great
Britain to bring her fleet to full treaty
figures during the next three years.
A recent compilation shows that, as
of the end of the present year, the
active under-age ships OF the three
leading naval powers show the return
OF Great Britain to the position OF first
81 nrin n
posed to be on a basis of parity with
the British fleet, has slipped almost to
par with that of Japan. Japan has
almost twice as many under-age ships
as the United States, and their gross
tonnage is within $1,000 tons of that of
the American Navy. This state OF al
fairs does not mean that either the
British or the japanese have built be-
yond their treaty rights. 1t means
simply that while they have been TAX
ing legitimate advantage of those rights
the United States, out of dictates OF
economy. has failed to avail itself of its
own rights. We have preferred to mark
time.
NAVY day, 1888, which commentaries
the 158th anniversary of the establish
ment of the United States Navy, is an
appropriate hour to consider the
urgency of expanding the fleet, as rap
idly and steadily as budget conditions
justify, up to the full limits available
to us under treaty provisions. Japan
has already signaled her intention of
asking for parity with the British and
American navies after 1895. Naval au-
thorities like Lord Beatty have just in
dicated that the British cannot afford
to rest content with their present
treaty allotment of cruisers.
Nothing in the world situation justi
fies any other policy than the one re-
Gently laid down by Secretary Swan
son-a navy for the United States sec
ond to none" Adequate defense at sea
Is national life insurance. Considering
the mighty interests at stake, the cost
of the annual upkeep Of an adequate
Navy represents a modest premium on
AldelOlAdl AiAC 'tioui oiiSC' ~ "ouAA 0S
the most inexcusable form of Federal
economy to cut down on that premium
or to let the insurance lapse in any
degree.
The Navy Is our sure shield. 1t must
be kept strong and sufficient for any
conceivable emergency.