U.S. NAVAL MIGHT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 228, 23 June 1944, Page 5

U.S. NAVAL MIGHT

100 New Carriers, Eight Battleships LONDON, June 21. In an article in the “Saturday Evening Post” the United States Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Forrestal, revealed that the United States Navy had added 100 carriers, 30,000 planes, and eight battleships to its fleet since July, 1940. In addition, more than 20 cruisers, 600 destroyers and destroyer escorts, 100 sub-ma"'"-°s. 28,500 landing craft, and thousands of auxiliaries had been built since the defence programme was initiated. “We had to do it in the time gained for us by England in 1940-41. and that gained by Russia’s mighty resistance,” he said. “Next time there will be no such breathing spell. In the next war the enemy may be over our homes on the first dav of hostilities.” “Whether we like it or not, we must face -the fact that the United States is not immune from the war,” said the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Forrestal, in a speech at Princeton University. He added: “We must recognize that aggression against China. Poland, France, or any other country automatically becomes an act of aggression against ourselves. Therefore we must not allow idealism to persuade us to disarm while a world organization for peace is in process of construction. . “Peace may be obtainable only through the armed forces of the United States and our allies.”