The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-11-25
PRESIDENT ANXIOUS
FOR NAVAL REFORM
Will Ask Congress TO Modernize the Department Estab-
lish General Staff, and Authorize Four New
BattleShips.
By ]. c. WELLIvER.

ganizatlon. His expansion program. OF
course, reefs the most enthusiastic
approval: for It mis- name will ever be
blessed. But when he discusses re-
organization, then he is anathema 10
the roll-top desk salts who navigate
swinging chairs at the department and
don't want criticism Of what they have
done, nor disturbance Of their COM
Portable assignments.
But TIE critics are going right ahead
with their criticisms. The truth is that
they have arranged fine program OF
literary eniilading Of the department
for this winter. Several Of the popular
magazines will be along presently with
attacks on various naval aspects all
of them calculated to strengthen the
hand Of the critics. and 10 encourage
the President to persevere IN his de-
mand for reform. The literature cam
palgn documents, some Of them already
In print. which viii go TO all members
Of Congress- and to everybody else
interested IN the Cause explaining just
what is the matter with the navy and
what reforms are needed. An especially
attractive sample OF undertaking is
promised in a forthcoming article which
Will show how the dock Yards are
mismanaged, and how impossible II
would be to care for a crippled fleet.
on our own shores, in timo Of war. IN
this connection, Il viii be shown just
how politics has injured tae navy yard
service and administration how yards
have been distributed for the benefit or
members OF Naval Committees, rather
than for the benefit OF the navy ana
how money has been spent on them in
proportion to pulls rather than 70 needs
Yet more: II will be declared that while
millions have been almost wasted IN
the political navy yards on our own
shores, nothing effective has been yet
done for Guantanamo. which absolute
ly must be made Port Arthur II we
are 10 protect the Isthmian canal.
In short the navy Is going to be Taked
fore and aft all winter long. Volunteers
have been enlisted and all the regulars
will be cut early. The bureaucracy VIII
be busler than ever before, taking care
of itself.
And while the American navy viii be
under criticism for bad organization,
the question Of naval expansion VIII be
urged Just now. IN naval circles, much
attention is being devoted to a remark
able anonymous article in the last num-
Der Of the English Quarterly Review, on
the German naval program This writer
gives Hn analysis OF the plans or the
German admiralty, by which he shows
that Germany is going 10 double up its
DTeaduougnt-buildlu program IN the
next three or four years. ana by Lll-
unless England makes special effort, VIII
actually have more DreddnOuEnJS Inan
Britain. Now, the DreadnOught type is
the only one TO which the naval sharps
give any attention whatever in these
DAYS. Iney listen patiently 10 DISCOURSE
bout the old-iashiOnbd small battle
ships, and keep them on the registers
but they measure naval power in terms
Of Dreadnougllts; that's all The Pinch
gun IS the one they want 70 know about
The Quarterly Review article not
only shows that Germany Is engaged
/ IN & plan which threatens presently 70
eclipse England, but also points out
that tire United States. unless IL makes
especial effort, IS going TO drop out OF
the list OF strictly first-ciass naval
powers soon. The author inclines Il
give America second place at present
/ but he is able 10 see the United States
forced down far in the list. in the near
| future. unless IL enlarge its building
/ program.
All this Is fine food for the advocates
of naval expansion. They are deter
mined 10 win the -battleship fight
I this year II possible. They know they
will have the President with them ir
another effort for Il, and they know
that sentiment in favor or about equal
/ ~ dividing the feet between Atlantic
ana Pacific IN future is growing, and
points surely to an enlarged buiIdine
! program. They expect 20 get four
Dreadnoughts authorized the coming
winter