The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-22
what MIR. Rcutcr,lah, says.


Mr.. Reuterdahl's main objections to
Dur ships as voiced In the McCure's
Magazine article, ore the lnyutficieney
Of shelr-proof armor protecting the
water line and their lowness, which,
he says. makes, one third OF the guns
useless in rough weather. OIL account
OF the seas shipped. He also condemns
the open shaft from tnrrets to powder
magazines and calls attention. to Wis,
inferior ammuritiont hoists.
Furthermore; the writer Says that
where's it was demonstrated in thu.
,nanocuvros of the Atlantic fleet last
summer that our navy needed forty
eight torpedo-boat destroyers, 1t has
only twenty. Respecting the personnel
II is his opinion that. although our
officers are not surpassed by any In
the world. they reach the higher COM
maads too late in life to make the.
service effective.
sAu these defects, the artist points
out have been known for years. within
the service and been commented upon
IN official reports and presidential
messages, but have been perpstuated
10y the bureau system in the nav
ard cannot be eliminated until that
goes. ss,..sl-,
every one Knows now that il Wa
have war H. must. Come by sea-. says Us
MIR, NeUteJudisl. ENCi ops hiN n -
that il will be decided, not by months
or years Of campaigning, but by ono
DAYS battle--a few hours Of trcrnen.
dous conflict between two fleets CT
lighting ships. And every one who
considers, II at all must understand
that for those few hours our fleet
must be continually prepared. We
are a great sea power now. ana We
have all the deep concern OF sea
a T..
come ana find our navy unpreparea.
Again. Mr. Retiterdahl points out
,nat while the French and Epslish
ftsets have had extensive and annual
practic, IN squadron formation at sea,
inst as would be; necessary in war. the
American navy until this year mas
never had but ten days of, practice OF
this sort since the Spanish WAY.
-, promotion TOO Slow.
In the report OF the chief Of the
bureau Of Navigation for 1906. an esti-
mate was made of: the ages OF the
higher officers In our service Our
admirals aperassd stxty-one years; the
captain.' OF" our fleet, the active COM
manders OF our battleships and cruis-
ers,. averaged over fifty eight.
This means that az the retiring age
is sixty-four., the officers have had
only the slightest practical experience
and. in addition. are exposed TO tbs
physical strain. of battle at time
when they are less able to stand it thar
younger men.
Commenting on this, General Tracy
seid -. Ts4i
sTnere Isl Something in the magazine
criticism that officers do not reach com
sand rank. until they are comparntivel,
r,a q n q Scri-
GUS problems with which. the depart
1nent has to contend. In times of peace
promotions by selection, no matter, how
wise they may be- are bound to breet
discomfort It Is impossible to con
vince the men who are not promote,
that the selections are not due to ia
voritism. l am afraid that the yer.
distinct advantages OF promotion b.
election above q certain rank would b
more than Offset by the discontent
would cause throughout the service.''
The Officers at the Brooklyn nav
yard differed very widely in theil
criticism on tho Reu,erdahl article
One officer doubted whether Mr. Rev
terdahl was correct in his statemcu
that the armor belt was much NOR
than six inches above the water linz
snd added that what he had seen
foreign ships he doubted If they wer
very much better Oft
TIT is a matter OF opinion whethe
a'.high or low. treeboard is best" sal
this orticar. There Is something ,
be- said for each side Of the question
4 A high frseboard enables you to Il 81
NIL your. batteries in all kinds I
weather.
81 don't think that our low arr,c
belts weaken the battieships' pr,
tectiye power. ~ Above them there
y thinner belt. and behind that is II
protective belt, which guards the Wit
parts and eventually stops shells TIL