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Show U. S. TO INVITE NATIONS TO hBrSARMAMEN-T-GONFE-RENGE nun SUMMON HIS Chairman Butler of the House Naval Committee Commit-tee Says Call Likely to Come After March 4 WASHINGTON, Vb. 4. An international conference to (JiHcuss diiiartnamrnt wilt ba railed by the United . KUtf, Chairman Butler of the hotme naval committee said today, when the committee met to hear the views of prominent naval offlcera on the sub-Jest. sub-Jest. Chairman Butler did not ssy when the call would be Issued, but from his line of questioning of witnesses it was asaumed he thought It would come soon after the lnsuguratlon of President-j elect Harding. Mr. Butler recently conferred with Mr. Harding at Marlon. Mar-lon. . . SIMS TESTIFIES. Rear Admiral William S. Sims, wartime war-time commander of America's oversens naval forces, was the first witness examined by the committee. With Cer-mnny'e Cer-mnny'e power crushed. Admiral 81ms said, all nations could reduce their naval srmamenta by half with safety. He added that he believed the natlona would welcome A call for a disarma-menl disarma-menl conference. Congress must determine national J policies be for naval officers can for-j for-j mulaie naval plans, the admiral said. "Ifsthenavy were maintained purely for defensive purposes." Admiral Sims said, "the Cnitfd States would be safe with i navy hnlf as large an that of any possible enemy thousands of miles away. If, however, the I" nit erf States intended to rely on Its navy for carrying carry-ing out broad international policies, he said, its sea power should be equal to that of a.-iy other nation. FAVORS AIRPLANES. Admiral Sims said ho agreed with General Pershing that war with Gr-at Britain was "inconceivable." hut Added Add-ed that he would not abandon the navy entirely, under any consideration, considera-tion, even if there were no enemy i In sight. 1 "I don't oHicve there Is a battleship iniil: that cannot he put out of com- ' :niHion by airplane bombs," said Sims.; "Thi bomb would pierce through I ;he flecks and down to the protective! d ck armor and then do terrific dam-j ntr-v If I hatd my way I would direct 1 ur i.etivities toward the development I oi a iittlon." . t WOULD HOLD TESTS. S:m urged that actual tests be ( mane iiy b'imbjng obsolete' battleship. 1 : as Brigadier General Mitchell of t he j armv air ser ice simested. In the ; j niam lie. supported Mitchell's viem. j i A nt iaireraf f guns are not effect h ' tir.iinsi. planes, the admiral sanl. "In: ; Trance one phme was hit out of every 1 I't'nj hots from the ground," said ! Sim. 1 J "The Hirplune, in my exumalion. is 1 j Coin gto be worth more than the hit-f 1 Meship with troper auxiliaries." t ' FLEET AT MERCY. I So great now is the menace of the ! ! airplane attack that a fleet with an! ; ndeuate air force could destroy our I I fleet with the present f tcilith s. he ' said i , "It is absolutely essential that we' t devejtip a much greater naval air ' force. We need more carrb-rs and' need ships on which to practice lurid-r j in it and taking off of planes." i 1 In ttwts made bv Great Itrit tin. j three out of e;ht hits were made by J ' aer'sj tor;itloes he said. ' |