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Show FEW SENATORS SPEAK AGAINST THE NAVAL BILL Administration Hopes to Pass Measure Before Adjournment Ad-journment Today; Party Par-ty Lines Broken. WASHINGTON, July 17. Discussion of the naval building programme In the senate sen-ate today brought out Indications that the committee recommendation for construction construc-tion of sixteen capital warships within three years, eight of them in 1917, probably prob-ably would be approved without material Amendment. Administration leaders hoped tonisrht to pass the bill before adjournment adjourn-ment tomorrow. Such opposition as developed today came from both sides of the chamber, Senators Thomas and Vardaman (Democrats) and Senators Works and Norris (Republicans) leading the attack on the building programme. pro-gramme. Both Democratic and Republican Repub-lican leaders defended it, however, and an amendment by Senator Norris to delay construction of any of the sixteen capital ships until after the close of the European Euro-pean war and after failure of efforts to create an international peace tribunal was tabled, 45 to 11. In support of his amendment, Senator Norris declared the bill provided for expenditure ex-penditure of more money for naval construction con-struction in time of peace than was ever spent by any nation in the world, despite the fact that "It is very probable that before this European war Is over the United States, without the construction of a single ship, will have the greatest navy in the world." Vardaman's Argument. Senator Vardaman declared congress was yielding to hysteria, and cautioned against ) expenditures of such vast sums for armament until the country's cool, normal judgment could be consulted. Senator Sen-ator Thomas opposed the construction of so many big ships and urged that submarines sub-marines and aircraft would be sufficient protection for a nation which does not contemplate offensive warfare. Senator Works predicted that passage of the naval bill would mark a change in military policy pol-icy that would overturn the peaceful spirit of America. Senators Lewis (Democrat) and Borah, Weeks and Kenyon (Republicans) spoke in favor of the measure. Senator Borah urged that if the United States was to enjoy the blessings of peace It must convince con-vince the world it is prepared for war: ; "Let us serve notice on the nations of the world," said the Idaho senator, "that, while we love peace and covet their regard, re-gard, our friendship cannot be purchased at the price of American citizenship." U. S. Friendless. Declaring that the United States has not a friend among the nations, Senator Lewis pleaded that the people be told the frank truth about foreign relations so they would demand an adequate navy. Ie pointed to Japan's entrance in the present war for the purpose of ousting Germany from the far east, and inquired if anyone believed that "she would not enforce against America what she enforced against Germany, and would call upon her present allies to help her in a war against the United States. "America today has not one friend among all the nations of the world," said Senator Lewis. "We have offended all from their point of view. We have served all from our point of view. Iet us go to the people of our country with our reasons rea-sons for this extraordinary preparedness. Tell them we move forward because we must In order to live." |