Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-12
Is THE NAVY PROGRESSING?

the navy has progressed instead of retro
crossed.
3 The department has been under fire for sew
eral months, charges being made that its eff
cheney has woefuly diminished under Secre
tary Daniels To this the head of the depart
ment replies that the charges are the malicious
attempt of disappointed gang Of coaEdealers
to discredit him because he put an end to their
combine and bought coal from other dealers
at lower prices. a.
The navy department s policy. and the policy
Of Congress in regard to battleship, cruiser and
submarine construction are now being worked
out in Congress. What Secretary Daniels says
in his report of the progress Of the past year
is particularly interesting: XII. -
As result of the ready spirit and wise dis
elimination Of Congress, the naval appropria-
ton bill, decreased below last Iyearls figures
provided for two dreadnoughts instead of one,
and, later in the session. Selling upon rare
opportunity, Congress authorized the sale of
two old ships ill-adapted to the present needs
Of q powerful dreadnought
The second session of the Sixty third Con-
gress has, therefore, to its credit the authorize
ton of three new dreadnoughts. In addition to
these new dreadnoughts there we're authorized
six tofpedo-boat destroyers and eight or more
submarines, one of which is to be a sea going
vessel, the first of its kind. The estimates for
the short session call for an increase embracing,
dreadnoughts destroyers, and submarines, and
likewise for other craft needed. These esti-|
mates have been prepared with consideration.
for the needs Of the service and the necessity
for economy which the rigors of foreign war
have imposed upon our national budget. These,
Recommendations granted the increase will be-
noteworthy and will give us a well-roundeda
Navy equal if not superior to that of any Navy
ii the world, ship for ship and man for man.
1.-The past year in the Navy affords gratifca-I
ton to all who take pride in its growth
strength and usefulness In every line of prog
ress and achievement it has demonstrated its
steady advance and efficiency. For the first
time in many years the enlistment is up to the
limit prescribed by Congress. The present en-
listment is 52667, or 5,612 greatef than in 1913,
and 50 attractive has the-service become to the
youth Of the land that il has been possible to-
have q waiting list, and il Is a fact that picked
men alone, of exceptional qualities mental and
moral, and of fine physical type, are now admit
ted; for out of So ,943 applicants for enlistment
Is, $50 new men we're accepted. Not only is the
Navy up to its prescribed quota as to numbers,
but the popularity of the service renders un-
necessary strained or unusual methods to at
tract q sufficient number of young men. The
welfare Of these young men who are so freely
offering themselves for their country's service
las been by no means neglected As will APP
pear hereafter, their pathway to the Naval
Academy, the Line, and the Pay Corps has been
Facilitated, and their physical comfort has been
materially improved. Their avenues of promo
ton are not as numerous as they should be, or
ss they will be. It must be true in the Ameri-
can navy that every sailor carries an admiral Isl
Tag Ia his ditty box, as Napoleon said it was
true of the army of France, that every soldier
carries marshal's baton In his knapsack. q
The conviction is strong and growing stronger
So the navy that the best discipline is promoted
BIZ friendly relations and mutual understanding
between officers and men.
IN discussing the Mexican situation, he re-
ferred to the preparedness of the navy as fol
lows:
.sTbe remarkable demonstration of the all J
sround efficiency Of the navy when the orders
81 MEXICO were given won commentator at
home and abroad. 1t showed the country
lat the navy is always ready-it lives in a
-, - of preparedness and that when the emer-I
...,,,ex arises every man In the navy and marinel
se,,,s shows such enthusiasm and resourceful-
- 81 n ol,icken the pride of their countrymens
1Ses - $50 The getaway of the feet and