The Washington herald., 1907-07-01
Vulnerable Battle Ships.

Editor The Washington HculQ.
No wonder our representatives at The
Hague are untiring in their efforts for
peace Maj. Gen. Bell charges something
is wrong with the army. and The Navy"
AYERS our great battle ships are vuIner-
able hulks
We wonder what Is the matter with the
army. Can il be that the failure Of the
War Department, on the recommendation
Of Capt Spencer Cosby, 20 close the Con-
duff road 70 the public as a rebuke 90
Mayor Garrett and his good officer Of
law and order. is powerless 10 carry out
such martial law suggestion TO suppress
Marshal Collins? OF tie two-martial
law and Marshal Conins-we prefer the
latter But whatever IS the matter with
the army. Il Is small odds The army
can be admonished, spanked attended
to-even TO the sending OF the adjutant
general 20 the Philippines
But the navy-what Of IT, With the
naval officers Of all the world actually
seeing. ar jamestown, in orr vulnerable
hulk battle ships the defects Of which
they always knew. and the japanese
ready 10 spring az our precious throats
there must be something wrong in our
navy too The personnel IS not meant
That is the trouble in the army. and #
can be cured-men are plentiful II is
the ships themselves-there's the rub
Who is responsible? Graft? Or is it
incOmpetenCy? Perhaps. without being
isl &c a. frr~LF
ing everywhere II Is the bane of ma
terialisu- America. It permeates the air;
all breathe g. There must be q remedy
Who is responsible for the vulnerable
hulks for which the people pay their
millions for sccUrity's sake? Is IT Con-
gress? Is It the committees of Congress.
or some members or a member Of such
committees Is il the officers Of the gov
eminent, by it appointed and trusted es-
pecially TO supervise 20 inspect. and, if
needs be. to condemn? Is it due to ig-
norance, incompetency, or to the dis
honesty of government officials? is il
due 10 the system, bad administration,
that which the President is ceaseIessiy
tireless in his efforts to cure? Is II IN
the builders? Wherever, whatever the
cause, the blame should be traced. placed.
=
penalty,
The navys value is primary. On its
strength and efficiency rest the security
Of America from outside foe On II, in
deed. rests largely the peace Of the world.
II IS the prop and stay Of the Monroe
doctrine. The navy must be kept whole
whole in everything. Its displacement
power should equal the greatest nations;
-f-
perfect. and its personnel unsullied.
I like not the attitude. the other day
revealed, Of a great ship-building con-
Germ bidding TO build a Dreadnought
at just little more than it has hereto
fore taken 10 build an ordinary battle
ship, and. too. in the very face Of the
great rise in the price Of raw material
and labor. Either our battle ships were
built at 4 ridiculously high price or our
Dreadnoughts viii be turned out yeritable
vulnerable hulks. We should have light
all that can be turned on
And l cannot agree with YOU In your
editorial. in Sundays issue that the ex-
posture Of the vulnerable hulks to the pub
lie, as made by ''The Navy" is baneful.
The people of France have been thirty
seven years bearing a burden as a result
Of their ignorance Of existing conditions.
a knowledge of which may have kept
them from plunging into a disastrous and
sacrificing war. And so, to-day. with a
knowledge of our battle ships being vul-
nerable hulks. we would think twice be-
fore engaging the willy and ready Japs.
the defeat Of which would be with the
navy. Al. GREEN.
l3i3 MelrUse street