Evening star., 1933-09-17
BY CLAUDE A. SWANSON,

BY CLAUDE A. SWANSON,
United States Secretary of the Navy.
w WITHIN recent weeks President
\ a Roosevelt has approved the
NN ALLEGATION from the funds of
the national industrial re-
covery act Of $238,000,000 for
new naval construction. Throughout
our history the people Of the United
States generally have believed in and
supported the policy of an adequate
Navy. But now, as always, there are
those who honestly and sincerely ques-
ton the need for additional naval ex-
penditures.
I doubt whether there IS a citizen
who has not been stirred when he has
seen flashed on the screen OF a moving
picture theater the Neat panorama OF
citizens undoubtedly have thought these
fighting vessels are unsurpassed In
power and strength and that their
possession makes the United States i'm
pregnable to attack.
Ships, like men and machinery wear
out. Other nations with powerful ma
vies are constantly improving their
weapons of attack and defense, build
ing. modernizing, strengthening their
fleets.
Equal to Any Other Nation.
The United States Is a first-class
nation, equal to any in the world, with
economic rights and interests in every
part Of the globe. We have natural
right and duty to maintain navy
equal to that of any other nation. Our
national interests would be jeopardized
by a second-grade or inferior navy
AS Admiral Moffett expressed 1t, In
time of war the second best navy is
no better than the second best hand in
poker game"
As the result of our participation In
the World War-a participation largely
forced by naval weakness that led to
gross disrespect of our rights as neu-
trail nation-We were well on the way
at the time of that conflict toward the
goal of having incomparably the great
est navy in the world. Voluntarily We
forSook that aim, sank great ships that
we were building, and agreed to re-
duction and limitation of sea arma-
ment Under treaty voluntarily exc
cuted by other great nations. an ade-
quate navy for the United States was
fixed as equal to that Of any other ma
ton, and as having fixed ratio to the
navieS of other countries.
United States will not violate either the
letter or the spirit Of any treaties with
other nations.
Others Increasing Strength.
We are merely doing now what other
nations have been doing during the
last several years: constructing ships
that will place our Navy in proper ratio
to the other navieS of other countries.
And when the present naval building
program is completed we shall still be
under, substantially lower, In fact, than
the sea strength allotted to us by treaty
We are not embarked nor shall we en-
bark on a naval program designed to
outdistance the relative treaty strength
of any other country.
The fundamental, principles OF our
naval policy, which lies back OF the
present construction. are as follows:
ITO maintain the United States Navy
in sufficient strength to support the ma
tional policies and commerce, and to
guard the continental and oversee pos
sessions of the United States.
ITO create, maintain and operate a
Navy second to none and in conformity
with treaty provisions.
ITO develop the Navy to maximum
in battle strength and ability to con-
troll the sea in defense Of the Nation
and its interests.
"To organize the Navy for operations
in either or both oceans SO that expan-
sion only will be necessary in the event
of war.
"To protect American lives and prop
erty"
No citizen of this or any other nation
can fairly object to those principles. They
are the principles of a great Nation
firmly committed to peace based upon
honor, and having no designs upon the
territory or wealth of any other nation.
Trained Personnel Necessary.
The Navy is much more than ships
with steel armor and great guns, air.
craft and explosives. 1t is men, many
warfare, for the defense Of their own
Nation, in case of need. It is also the
great and intricate establishment and
system that must be be instantly avail
able to furnish the men and ships with
ammunition, fuel, food and water parts
for machinery, information as to enemy
movements, instant contact between
ships separated at sea, and all the other
things that make cohesive force ef-
fective In time of emergency, either IN
peace or war.
Here Is the great U. 5. 5. Superdreao-
naught Colorado, with its great gray
hull forcing way through the waters
of the Pacific Ocean, the smoke OF her
engines mingling with the eddying fog.
From her great steel-clad turrets, eight
16-inch guns protrude, capable OF firing
projectiles, each weighing 2,100 pounds,
| a distance of more than 20 miles. In
addition, she carries airplanes. nearly
a score Of smaller guns, besides anti
aircraft guns and torpedo tubes capable
of propelling death and destruction to
enemy ships. More than 600 feet long,
nearly 100 feet broad on the water line.
displacing $4,000 tons, she is propelled
through the water at speed OF more
than 81 knots by four 8,00O-horsepower
electric motors Her main engines are
two 0OO-horsepower turbo- electric
generators, with oil used as fuel. Her
| hull IS divided into water-tight com.
partments, to reduce the possibility OF
sinkage if she is struck.
She was what has otter. been tarmeo
| floating fortress, one Of the fleet OF
Is United States battleships.
1,4o0 Men Handle Ship.
To make that powerful battle unit
effective for the. defense Of our country
in case of war, Or messenger Of mercy
In emergency such as earthquake, fire
or famine, more than 1,400 officers and