New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-07
Ships That Can't Fight and Gun
ners That Can't Shoot.

Il
our neigbbor "The World" processes to be de-
lighted with our revelation that there Is at pres
ont only one submarine on our Atlantic coast
north Of the Canal Zone really fit for war. Inc
World" has been asking for information regard
ing the results of this cOuntry's expenditure on
military and naval preparations Evidently It's
mind &c relieved so far as submarines are con-
cerned. OF twelve submarines in home waters
eight are undergoing repairs that VIII take a'
least two months. This, says line "oriu'
shows that the Navy Department rs keeping It's
submarine feet in first class condition" 1t does;
II vindicates the Navy Department per1ectiy'
the purpose of navy is not to fight or sail Vne
seas hut to lie in dock undergoing repairs II
this is the purpose, then to have two-thirds OIL
o,os. of ebins ont of commission is to maintain
a high average.
"Tbe Worlds" enthusiasm over ships that
don't sail but lie in docks seems to promise al
bes;on TO the whole Josephan policy of contradlc-
.;ors In the Josephan navy guns are not de-
signed to shoot So essential target Pracuce Is
neglected for two years. In that navy Officers
are not officers, but school teachers In that navy
the big ships do not prepare for the national de-
fence in the obscurity of cruises and man@uVreS'
but lie in the limelight at Vera Cruz SO that
the name of Daniels will be heard over the iahd'
In that navy the high titled expert in Washing
ton dances attendance on some civilian private
secretary of some subordinate Of Josephus' OF
sits in row with others of his rank patiently
watching the great Secretary himself consume ms
luncheon. In that navy an editor, scorning advice
from experienced officers whose duty 1T is to ad-
wise. passes on contracts or picks armor plate
himself. while a former newspaper reporter
makes bureau chiefs explain to him why they
nrefer gun sight costing, let us say, So 5O-we
don't know the prices of gun sights-to one Just
as good" costing 81 90. In such navy why not
submarines in dock and gunners that have
ceased to know how to hit mark? If we could
look ut it with our neighbours eyes we should
doubtless find four submarines, three of them
"lame ducks" more than enough to defend the
whole Atlantic coast and all the harbors from
Maine to Florida.
But we cannot look at it with our neighbours
ewes. We remember the navy two years ago as at
its highest state of efficiency. To-day it is at its
lowest state of efficiency. We, in common with a
lot of other people, want to NOW what brought
about its decadence The Tribune is not alone in
asking for the facts. Newspapers of Mr.. Dan
ielss own party demand an investigation. Civic
organizations are calling for an inquiry. The
facts are hard to get. Naval officers are not
permitted to talk here as they are in England
Mr.. Danielss love of democracy in the navy
does not go so far that. On the contrary he
holds over every loose tongue the threat of a
court martial
In search of the facts The Tribune has learned
that two-thirds of the submarines not needed al
Panama are out of repair and will be for some
time to come, while most of the others are not al
their full efficiency. 1t has learned that many
of the big battleships of the Atlantic fleet have
not had either divisional or day individual large
practice in couple of years. 1t offers these
facts together with some others bearing on tht
navy's present inefficiency to the public in the
hope that they will stimulate the uncovering Of
the rest of the truth. The Tribune has only
scratched the surface An investigation by a
committee Of Congress is necessary to get to the
bottom. Only by its work can Mr.. Daniels be
shaken out Of his vanity and reused from his
dream Of greatness to be achieved by making the
navy something other than a navy--perhaps a
weapon to fight the trusts or aristocracy or some
thing else that doesn't sail the seas, but certainly
tenant of drydocks, with disused guns, dispirit-
cd officers and unframed men.