U.S. NAVY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17062, 5 February 1921, Page 9

U.S. NAVY.

BATTLESHIPS DESIRED. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian awl N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, Fob. 3. The Navy General Board recently furnished a report to Mr Josephus Daniels (Secretary of the Navy), who transmitted it to the Naval Committee, as follows:—"We reiterate our belief in battleships forming the principal unit of the Fleet. Without them the United States cannot hope to compete with existing navies. We urge that equality in power he continued as the policy of the United States. There is no thought of instituting international competition building programmes. No other nation can reasonably take exception to .such a. position. Our guiding policy since 1903 was the eventual creation of a Navy equal to the-strongest in the world. We urge that there be no rest or limitation of armaments that would modify tho great programme of 1916. In future, we shall in all probability have to rely solely on our state of preparedness. Great Britain's cessation of building is due to the great preponderance of Tier Navy and the present economic situation of that Empire." (Received February 4th. 8.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 3. The Genera! Naval Board has issued a report wfliich declares that the United States must continue to build battleships until tho Navy equals the strongest m tho world. It would be the height of unwisdom for the United States to pin their faith on air craft or submarines as having replaced the battlerfiip. No rest period or limitation oP armaments should he agreed to until the United States had eomnleted her l programme.