The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 1928. THE AMERICAN NAVY.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 1928. THE AMERICAN NAVY.

Tub alarms and excursions regarding ' the American Navy are prohuhly in keeping with the desire of the nation itself always to impress the world by producing something .stupendous and out of compare with anything else in the world. In oilier words, there appears to be always (lie desire to liek creation. The naval programme to lie submitted to the American House of Representatives is not likely to provide . much comfort to those who dread the thought of war. and see in the biiilili mg up 111 great armies and navies the I gravest menace that call threaten the world’s peace. The Secretary of the ( Navy lias now informed Congress that | the five years’ programme which lie recently recommended, and which was I to cost £160.000,000, is to he regarded | ‘‘only as a start.” Wlmt the naval experts really want, it seems, is “ail I. additional twenty years' programme of | building and replacements.'' the total .1 cost apparently to reach a figure which ' Mr Wilhur so far has mercifully rej trained from stating. No doubt sonic : sort of plausible excuse can be ad- ! vnncod by the American Naval Office | in defence of this prodigous scheme. . But what the average man must in- ! evitablv feel about it is that there is I a curious inconsistency between the | demands for the limitation of armaments put forward by President HardI ing and President Coolidge and this sudden production of a plan for naval enlargement on so colossal a scale. It is impossible to shut one’s eyes to the palpable fact that the building ot navies must involve competition, and that America’s “needs” cannot rationally lie defined on the assumption that whatever any other country requires for its naval defence oi its commercial prosperity, America must have too. As a matter of fact, Mr Wilhur has taken it for granted that because Britain professes to require many cruisers, therefore the United States must have them as well. But Britain is an island, and the centre of an insular Empire, while America is a continent, self-contained and .self-supporting, and boasting of its complete freedom from “foreign entanglements” and external responsibilities There is no escape front the conclusion, admirably expressed by one of the ablest of American publicists, Mr Frank Sitnoitds, that the American “big navy” programme is not a question ot national security, but of “national pride.” How often have the leading statesmen of America appealed to the world in recent years to reduce the danger of war liv “limiting armaments”? To-day Mr Wilbur tells us that if his twenty years’ programme is carried out, “the danger of war would he greatly minimised.” Tt is little wonder that the average man, bewildered by these rapid changes o’ front, should liegin to doubt the sincerity of American pacifist professions, and to suspect the motives behind these strange inconsistencies. But withal, there does not appear to be any special occasion to ho alarmed at t l- o prospect of an expanded Navy in the United States Just now America !; busy trying to outlaw war. and tbit movement if it comes to fruition must niitoniati'cally eclipse the big Navy movement, unless Uncle Sam requires it as a plaything or something upon which to spend his hoarded gold. America can “afford’’ a big Navy and some folk like to display their wealth. Probably that brand of pride is the seat of the big Navy movement. But at bed-rock there need be no alarm nor desire to emulate the United States. Britain can afford to cut her naval cloth to her own requirements, which in any ease are many, and await results without flurry or hurry.

and yet there is no tangible evidence of the fact, 'flic assertions were positive enough, hut failed to convince latest use the aeroplane has since not materialised. Those who caught the signals agree that they failed about 5.30 by which time they were hut a whine and not the short sharp signal prearranged. Was it. that the long drawn out whine was the alternative to the short sharp signal, and in the absence of the code to explain, was intended to convey the fact that all was not well, and that difficulties wore being encountered? Had the aeroplane l/eon overhead as alleged to he seen by o many, the machine must have been functioning, and in that case it would have been possible to hear the signals. None were hoard. Some averred they heard the drone of the engine, confirming the belief that the engine was working—then why no signals? It would appear that in such tense times the imagination plays a part unconsciously. Those who aver so emphatically that they saw something akin to an aeroplane either had their imagination fired unduly, or something fantastic about the shape of a passing cloud deceived them. The lights which were said to have been seen, may have been stars through cloud breaks, or silver linings from the bright moon showing up the fringe of a white cloud. ]f not. then whore is the aeroplane? The opinion seems to he confirming that the aeroplane was in trouble at 5.30. and its sustained signal was the medium adopted to communicate its Might. At that time it would be about twelve boors on its journey, or rougldv throe quarters of the way across. Tf all were well the aeroplane should have been in sight of New Zealand before dark, and if there were any doubt in the aviators’ minds that darkness would overtake them, before the landing at Trenlliam was possible, then a beach landing as near Foxton as circumstances would permit, would bo attempted. The weather on the AVest Const was quite favorable, so that had all gone well the difficulties at this end were certainly minimised. The conclusion is evident that in the over confidence of the plucky and venturesome aviators something went amiss and tragedy resulted. Judging by tbe press comment it, is evident too Ibe lessons to be drawn from 1 lie occasion are being taken seriously In heart.