U.S. NAVY BEHIND BRITAIN IN SHIP STRENGTH SAYS ROOSEVELT
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 11, 1924, The Sunday Star states that Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt has admitted the United States Navy is in second place in ship strength behind Great Britain.
The admission came in a report to the Naval Affairs Committee requested by chairman Thomas S. Butler* to respond to a New York Times article which asserts the American Navy is "in last position" behind Great Britain and Japan.
The U.S. Navy has fallen below an equal ratio strength with Great Britain as required by the 5-5-3 formula adopted by the naval limitation treaty**.
*Thomas Stalker Butler (1855-1928) was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, admitted to the bar in 1877 & served in US House of Representatives 1897-1928. TSB was chair of the committee on Pacific Railroads & the Naval Affairs Committee.
**Five Power Naval Limitation Treaty halted the WWI race of building warships by setting the limits of battleships to 525,000 tons each for U.S. & Great Britain & 315,000 tons for Japan.
SOURCE
"Navy Falls Behind Roosevelt Admits," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., May 11, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
Unidentified Marine Lt.,Thomas Butler & Admiral Henry T. Mayo US Navy Historical Center (1919)
