New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-08
Keeping the Facts from the Ameri'
can People.

There is no doubt OF the aim anu en0N' %
President Wilson's stand as announced 70 Ion
0ressman Gardner. If the President mas MS
way there will be no inquiry worth the paper I"
Mint ;+s results on The scandalous CONDITION
of The navy. the crying needs Of the whole scheme
of national defence, will be hushed up and buried
under an official pretence of activity "h@Oe'ei
Mr. Wilson'S motives, there can be no DOUBT OF
what his course means to the American people
His exact proposal is that the committees OF
Congress- shall investigate as they please. lhis
means that in the course of the winter the Varl-
o,,s committees of the House and Senate may or
,,.,, NOT do some desultory investigating of the
nart;cplar items Of military defence which fall
within their purview There may or may not DC
an inquiry into coast defences into naval anairS
and into military affairs by the several commit
tees of House and Senate. No especial duty Will
he laid upon anybody. Excuses for procrastlna'
ton will be voluminous. Such scraps of fact as
NAV be obtained will offer no comprehensive &C
count Of the deficiencies which The Tribune and
others have uncovered. No solid basis OF TACT
will be laid on which the country can act with IN
telligence
What the American people are entitled to and
what they will undoubtedly get, we THINK is
already clear. The decline in the hghnhg
strength of the navy cannot be gainsaid. The
shortcomings of the country's system of defence
by land have been widely asserted and not con-
tradicted. The time has come for thorough
going examination of the facts and the formation
of fresh plans for the future. This means hrst
of ALL an inquiry into the state OF our exlstng ue
fences. Not half hearted, disorganized search
nv a half-dozen unwilling committees, but thor
ough. comprehensive investigation by one able
committee. specially charged with the duty and
bearing the full responsibility before the eyes OF
the nation of going to the bottom of things and
finding out exactly where we stand That Is
what the American people are entitled to and
that is what we are confident they will get, the
President of the United States to the contrary
notwithstanding.
What shall come after, it remains for the full
showing of facts to develop. The Tribune is
strongly inclined to the view that a national
council of defence, composed alike of men OF
the widest expert knowledge and of men of COM
handing position in the country's public life,
will probably be needed to devise comprehen'
sive plan. 1t is one of the vices of the present
system that no unified coordination of our ma
tional defences is possible. Separate committees
of Congress act according to their own informa-
ton and intelligence, with the scantiest bearing
upon each others activity. With the present
awakening of the nation 20 its needs, the hour
seems fit one for considering the entire prob
lem anew, in the light of current developments,
and with the aim of devising a comprehensive
scheme for safeguarding our great nation with
an extended coast line on two oceans, against at
tack. A national council seems the likeest plan
suggested for achieving such a result calmly,
swiftly and wisely
There are also changes in the organization of
the departments at Washington which may seem
desirable when all the facts are in. At present
the Secretary of the Navy is law unto himself
knowing no advisers and bound by no law to con-
suit any one. This seems grotesque blunder
| in view Of Mr.. Daniels's preposterous actions
Some civilian control is necessary. But at least
there should be a General Board in the navy
possessing the powers and duties of the General
staff Of the army. This whole problem of civil
ian influence and control is one of the questions
which Mr.. Danels's incumbency has forced tC
the front and which must be carefully reconsid
cred in the light of all the facts.
But first of all those facts should be sought
ity.