Tillman wanted a maximum battleship standard that would curb the repeated construction of slightly larger ships. Successive improvements meant spending heavily on a battleship that could become obsolete within two generations. The United States had concentrated on battleships while neglecting cruiser construction. Calming that qualitative race would let Tillman press for the cruiser program he wanted.
Chapter · 16:03-19:17
A battleship ceiling clears the way for cruisers
Tillman's giant battleship proposals are interpreted as a way to end incremental escalation and redirect American construction toward cruisers.