Recent discussions in American public have attracted attention to the country's larged defence needs in view of the situation which may, or may not, develop favourably to the best interests of the United States. It is lonly natural that the unparalleled conditions prevailing in Europe, baring to the utmost de-fail and the last ounce of strength the political, military and economic policies and resources lof the' Belligerenis, should also envelope the [United States and compel more studied ex-lamination of her own position. President Roose welt has. presented a record-breaking budget for peace time. There has been talk of a movement to build an AUantie Fleet two-thirds of the Pacife Fleet as an added protection for the American Republics against encroachments {from Europe. Giant battleships of 60,000 tons Jand more have been mentioned, while Admiral Tsingtao Improvement 'The report appearing in another column, to the emtet that his: D.'Kato, Japanese Consul [Generat, has announced that' os from yesterday Snother' shipping berth in Tsingtao. harbour, of fell s iwo'additional godowns, will be made vallable for 'Third-Power, vessels, is most ele fame reading. "It is noted that these facilities tru not be suspended uni ese military necessity bilges, and it is to. be hoped thet this wil fndced' be the case. "The concession which has een made, it is true, will not solve all the Sitlculies which foreign shipping concerns Hf. "R. Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, wasted. few words in describing his country's naval defence needs to the House Naval Affairs Committee. Speaking bluntly, and with the authority. which his position' designates, he wants the fortification of Guam, in. the Pacific, and the expenditure of U.S. $1,300,000 on a new building programme which would provide 107 ships as the minimum requirement based lon the exigencies of the situation created by the European war. These figures would, on first sight, appear astounding, but they are merely fractional in the struggle for armed predomin-Jance which Germany initiated and which other
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.