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Show Preventive Preparedness THE state of North Carolina may be proud that its name is to be given to the navy's newest battleship. It will be the first to go into construction con-struction since the signing nf the Washington naval treaty for arms limitation in 1922. It will be well to keep that date fifteen years past in mind as recent naval appropriations are assessed and analyzed in this time of worldwide disorders, dissensions and abortive enterprises seeking to discover a basis for peace and amity among the powers. The keel nf this navy giant is to be laid two months ahead of schedule and construction will be immediately begun. It is to be ready for launching In 1941. This fact is worthy of sober reflection by the people of the nation four years to build one battleship! It is to cost S60.00a.000. Its main batteries will mount nine 16-inrh guns. Considering the woeful state of the world, it is hard to avoid a feeling of thanksgiving that our fleet is being strengthened by this addition, costly as it is. And if the cost is hard to forget, we might remember that the North Carolina will serve her purpose even if she never fires a shot at any enemy in her entire career. There is still something to be said for the theory that adequate preparedness ran help to keep a nation out of war. If. by the mere fact of her existence, the North Carolina helps make other nations wary of starting trouble with the United States, she will be worth every cent she costs. |