The Washington herald., 1909-02-04
NEWBERRY REPLIES
TO NAVY CRITICISM
Says Turner's Figures Are
Startling, Not Accurate.
FLEET IS SECOND TO NONE
Former Secretary of Navy, in Maya
zine Article, Says United States
Keeps Abreast of Carrent COndi-
lions in Building War shiDs-Refers
to Essential FaIIacy of Deductions.

New York. Feb. 3-In this weeks Lit
srsry Digest there appears the only an
swsr so far made by Secretary OF the
Navy Newberry TO the criticisms OF the
Navy Department made by George Kibbe
Turner In McClgre's Magazine for Febru-
s-y.
The Secretsry's communication, which
Is published IN sections with certain ex-
plsnatorT paragraphs contributed by the
editor OF the Digest, Is IN the form OF
a reply to q letter written to Mr.. New
berry By the Digests editor. asking the
Sscretsry's opinion Of Turner'S article. It
Is published under the caption, 'Screping
or the Naval Barnacles."
Introducing the Secretary's letter with
a reproduction Of the Turner article. the
Literary Digest remarks that ''Secre-
ta-y NeWberry has been investigating for
some time and psr1ecting q plan OF reor-
gsniz2tion. but found himself superseded
IN this work by q Presidential commission
50 suddenly on Tuesday OF last week that
he got his first news OF If from the
press"
Calls Premises Imaginary.
Secretary NeTbeTy says IN his letter
that Mr. Turner promised his statements
'-on On imaginary and impossible set OF
conditions" This, the Secretary says,
CONSTITUTES the essential fsIIacy Of lis
deductions, and makes his figures more
startling than accurate
The Secretary continues:
1T is as though he asserted that the
United States Steel Corporation might #
feet z great saving (as doubtless It coCli)
II its present plant could De immediately
discarded without loss. and instantly Ie-
built IN according with the latest develop
nents OF the art M Turner 1as I'm
sgined s navy consisting o. what he con-
slders the proper number OF ships, built
and equipped over night, so that the very
latest ideas are expressed IN their con-
struetion."
Mr.. Nevberry implies that Congress
and the Navy Department are fully as
competent as q magazine writer. who
gives such brief study TO naval condi-
tons as his occupation as a special in
vestigator permits, and adds that the
question before the country. and before
the head OF the department, IS not what
might be done II q magician's hand could
Summon = CoIlpiSLe QEEstI42zLlOls OUT
what may be best done with that which
IS developed cOincidently with the art
Of making war.
Navy Second 10 None.
As quoted by the Literary Digest, the
Secretary concludes:
The United States has always been
abreast Of the best current practices in
naval developments vita the material
provided It. as its record aaoat in peace.
and war, testifes. as well as a comparison
OF the efficiency OF its feet al the pres
ent time with those OF other powers.
Ship for ship, Il stands second 70 none.
IF this result has been achieved By the
naval establishment as a whole, Is il not
logical 70 assume. az I have proved 70
my own critical satisfaction, that, aside
from the relatively small defects in ad-
ministration which crop up and have 10
be eradicated with changing times in al
great concerns alike, the navy IS pro
vided for by Congress and administered
by its subordinate officials with con-
scientious regard for the public INTEREST,"