Evening journal., 1907-12-26
H0BS0N TALKS OF
NAVY'S WEAKNESS
Believes, However, II Can
Give Good Account Of
Itself Again
THINKS OMMANDERS
RETIRE TOO EARLY
BY THE JOURNALS Special Wire
BY Richard Pearson Hobson-
Cnn,,,i..ll 1nnz L.. rr.,il.a d.


BY Richard Pearson Hobson-
Copyright 1907 by United Press.
NEW YORK. Dec. 26-It is
important that the American people
should be kept acquainted with the
elements of defense Of the United
States and should be informed when
any Of these elements are inadequate
or inefficient. The element Of supreme
importance to America is her navy and
believe that with this juncture and
generally, most important criticism of
the navy that should be made public
is its insufficient size.
eW are able to assemble only one
great feet while we have three oceans
to defend. With our feet now in the
Atlantic we are defenceless in the
Pacific; and when out fleet is in the
Pacific we are defenceless in the At
lantic, and unable to guarantee the en-
forcement of the Monroe doctrine.
America is not a nation with interests
and dangers in one part of the world.
She has interests everywhere and
adequate defense Of her rights through
complete navy is requisite, both in
the Atlantic and the Pacific.
COMMENDS REUTERDAHL.
1t is also important that the condi-
tions in the navy that we have should
be known. Mr.. Reuterdahl and his
contemporaneous critics are doing the
public a service in turning the search
lights upon the elements Of efficiency
and pointing out all features that could
be improved or corrected. The ques-
ton of main armor belt is essentially
a technical one.
All Mr.. Reuterdahl says, as to maga-
zine construction is well taken. We
have found out by sad experience the
defects in our ammunition shafts,
leading from the turret to the handling
room and the magazines. 1t may be
stated. however. that the defects have
been discovered in time to remedy
them. Measures are now being taken
to correct this feature in our ships.
NEED MORE TORPEDO BOATS.
The criticism as to open turret ports,
is also well taken. The great openings
are unnecessary, and the dangers they
invite were pointed out to the Navy
Department twelve years ago. There
is no excuse whatever for having these
great gaping windows inviting the
entry of shells Of all sizes unobstruct-
ed into the turrets. The lack of tor
pedo boats and destroyers is woeful.
The criticism on the age of our COM
missioned officers is only too well
taken. They are old when they come
to command; they are retired by tile
time they become accustomed to COM
mand. For years this reorganization
has been pointed out to Congress. It
is a question of legislation and moth
ing has been done. Furthermore the
recommendation that battle drills
should be more frequent and more ex-
tensive is a good one, and now that
we have adopted the wise policy OF
assenlblage Of a large deet. battle drills
and maneuvres on a large scale can be
and should be more frequently made.
agree with the criticism that we
should give more encouragement to
American inventors. / believe we
should have a fund from which to try
plausible devices, no matter by whom
submitted.
REORGANIZATION OF THE NAVY.
The question Of reorganization of the
Navy Department and the administra-
tion Of the navy cannot be adequately
treated in the few paragraphs given by
the critics. This is a difficult and
complex problem believe that the
time has come for certain changes,
particularly in the administration of
the navy, but sweeping, off-hand
! condemnation Of the whole plan is not
warranted by the facts.
Mr.. Reuterdahl has certainly render
ed a distinct service in his criticisms.
But these criticisms should not shake
the confidence Of the American people
in their navy. In the last analysis,
the battle IS the only test. 1 fully
concur in the statement that battles
are won long before they are fought
by weeks. months and years of stead
! fast tireless preparation, but so far as
my meagre acquaintance and knowl-
edge of our navy extends, I believe II
It were put to the supreme test It.
would give the same good account OF
itself that it gave in the wars Of the
past.