AMERICA’S NAVY

Evening Star, Issue 19773, 25 January 1928, Page 5

AMERICA’S NAVY

HIGH EFFICIENCY NECESSARY SPEECH BY MR WILBUR. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, January 23. Mr C. D. Wilbur (Secretary of the Navy), speaking at the Middlesex Chib, Boston, said: “We must have a first-class navy in time of peace if we are to have a first-class navy in time of war. No matter what are our social standards, nor how we may abhor war, it must Ire conceded that it would be shameful for a nation financially able to equip itself with modern weapons to send men into battle_ in ships so inferior that their sacrifice would be the obvious result. A spirit of fairness ami decency alone should compel us to provide modern weapons of war. Wo have the choice of abandoning the navy or maintaining a high degree of efficiency, and of these the navy plans the latter. The idea that ships may be built and placed on the reserve, to bo commissioned in time of hostilities, is utterly impracticable.” WAR PREDICTIONS. SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. WASHINGTON, January 24. (Received January 25, at 8.20 a.m.) President Coolidge declared to-day that he sav no reason why the newspapers in this or any other country should take seriously the statements of American naval officers predicting war between the United States and her commercial competitors.—A. and N.Z. and ‘ Sun ’ Cable.