AMERICA AND JAPAN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 5

AMERICA AND JAPAN.

NEED 'FOR A STRONG NAVY. U.v Telcerapli-l'rcss A }*iH-i-tlon--Cops-rid'. 1 . New York, March 9. Mr. Lincoln Cummins, president of the United States Navy League, speaking at Saili.-Francisoo, urged the need for tho United States to have a strong navy in consequence .of' tho aspirations of Japan to control the commerce of the Pacific. ... ~ _ : They oughtf-ho.said, ,to,maintain tho ratio of fleet-building with that of Japan.

THE SECRETARY'S REPORT.

Somo interesting details of American naval policy are given in the annual report of Mr: Meyer, the Secretary of tho Navy, which was published at, the- eml of the year. 'I'fleet'of 20 Dreadnoughts is definitely set down as-the minimum establishment for the first lino that the United States can eventually afford to maintain. An establishment of 20 ships for (he sccond.lino is advocated; Basing his calculations upon the theory that ten years after it has been laid down a battleship must bo relegated to the second line, Mr. Meyer, while recommending this year the adoption bv ..Congress of the usual two-battleship programme, points out that after 1912. additional, ships will have to be anthorisod to counterbalance the withdrawals of obsolete vessels. In 1911 tho battleship fleet will consist of six Dreadnoughts and 15 pro-Dread, noughts; in 1916, if tho two-baltleship programme bo not "increased, of 16. Dreadnoughts and one pro-Dreadnought; in 1918. of 19 Dreadnoughts, and thenceforward of only 18 instead of 20 Dreadnoughts. \Vitli regard to tho disposal of the fleet tho 'report is very definite. On' account of difficulties connected wj'.h the coal supply on tho Pacific Coast and on account of tho lacli of docking facilities there, "it would appear inadvisable to transfer tho fleet to" the Pacific even if there were no other reason. It is considered that the nlaco of the fleet, at lonst, until tho Panama Canal is completed, is in tho Atlantic." When the canal is opened the fleet may alternate between the oceans. In order to increase Hie present military value of the fleet, Mr. Meyer recommends the enlargement of the naval station at Guantan'amo, and the abolition of the two secondary stations in tho Gulf of Mexico.