The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1910-04-09
MEYER URGES
ARMED PEACE
Secretary Pleads For More
Warships.
NAVY BUILT STEEL TRADE

OSSfafeS 9Fo"tH u SuPy aIas - Sas
to Government Work Advocates
Younger 0fficsrs and Thorough
Preparation.
Philadelphia. April S.-"To be strong
armed for peace is guarantee OF
peace to be rich but weak is TO in
vite aggression. We know that our
people are peace-loving until trodden
on and then they do not count the
cost TO win How much better TO
make adequate preparation TO secure
peace at moderate cost! How short
sighted to spend enormous sums and
valuab ble lives TO restore peace after
war has besnn!"
In these words George Won l.. Meyer,
secretary OF the navy, concluded his
address at the annual banquet OF the
Navy League of the United States,
held at the Bellevue-Stratford
Criticised Promotion System,
His speech was a plea for sres-->.
navy as the surest guarantee or
peace. and voiced protest against a
parsimonious policy. Incidentally Sec
retary Meyer criticised the present
system of promotion in the navy.
which he characterized as absurd.
instancing among it's results that the
average age of captains is fifty five
years and of admirals sixty and half
years. He spoke with praise OF the
proposed personnel bill" designed to
procure officers of advanced rank at
younger age. To our expanding navy
Mr.. Meyer gave credit for the enOr-
4nous growth in this country's steel
business, and for Americas ability
during the last twelve years to under
sell the world in steel.
Charlemagne Tower. chairman of
the Nicholas Biddle section of the
league, presided. The speakers. in ad
dition to Secretary Meyer. included
Senator Penrose, Senator Oliver, Gov
sernor Stuart, Rear Admiral Sperry and
Mayor Reyburn Commander Peary at
tended for short time prior to his
departure from the city
Secretary Never spoke in part as
follows:
Under the present absurd system
of promotion the average of captains
is fiffy-fiye Years and OF rear admiraIs
sixty and half years. We are now
); ;erving training officers in command
of battleships and armored cruisers.
many of whom cannot serve as flag
officers on account OF the short time
they have been on the active list after
reaching that grade. The proposed
personnel bill which was recommend
ed by the board will promote the Off
GERS to the grade OF rear admiral at
the average age of ffty-four years and
to the captains at the average age of
about forty-six.
Steel Trade Due to Navy.
1.-THE navy is largely responsible for
the mammoth growth of the steel
trade in this country. The shipyards
of Bath. Me-; Quincy. Mass: New
York, Camden. Philadelphia. Newport
News, Seattle and San Francisco owe
their establishment and growth to the
government work on the navy.
'.The year 1907 beheld America. for
the flrst time underselling the world
in steel. This year. we have had the
proud distinction, in open competition
with England. Germany, France and
Italy. of having allotted to our ship
builders construction and equipment
for the Argentine government OF two
of the largest battleships that have
been designed"
Taft Endorses Larger Navy.
The annual convention OF the
league. which is the first ever to be
held.t.,r..-.Ie of Washington, was open
ed with an afternoon session at which
a telegram from President Taft ex
pressing his sympathy with the plans
for greater navy was read, as fol
lows:
81 wish to express my sympathy
with your organization and in its pun
pose to secure the continuance of .
strong and efficient navy for the sim
pie purpose of maintaining peace. TWO
battleships a year, until the Panams
canal is completed. is my plan and
hope you are in sympathy with this
President Taft regretted that he wa.
unable to attend the banquet of the
organization.