New-York tribune., 1914-12-21
ADMIRALS PROVE
NAVY'S WEAKNESS
Continued from page l

tanned in any other way. Accuracy,
safety and nerve in manpuvring at high
speeds the great vessels now compos-
ing the main body Of the fleet, and
Quick comprehension of the principles
involved in the various tactical and
battle problems presented for solution,
can only be had by constant practice
The admiral acknowledged that no
sixteen-yessel feet-no complete heet
of the United States had engaged IN
maneuvres since February, 1912, more
than two and half years before the
writing of The Tribune articles, and
this in the face of his own expressed
views, the protestations of the General
Poard and against the combined advice
Of every expert tactician of the naval
service.
Target practice, the essential train
ing of the sea fighter of to-day, had
been for two years neglected on board
q large proportion of the fighting feet:
The Tribune's headlines on the third OF
the series Of articles were:
BATTLESHIPS SHOW POOREST
GTNNERY IN NAVY'S RECORD.
MANY CREWS HAVE NOT HAD
REGULAR TARGET PRACTICE
FOR TWO YEARS. KEEPING 4
GREAT FLEET AT GUNB0AT
Duty OFF VERA CRUZ HAS
HAMPERED DRILL OF OFFICERS
AND MEN.
As to the ships that missed target
practice Admiral Badger testified;
ut has happened that various ships
have been unable to hold some partlcu-
lar form or forms of the annual target
practice on schedule time, though ei-
fort is always made to have such SHIPS
make up the deficiency later In the
cases of some ships II was necessary 10
omit altogether one or more forms OF
practice for one or other OF the iol-
lowing reasons: Employment on the
coast of Mexico or in the Caribbean,
delay in the completion OF authorized
repairs at the navy yards, or because
OF temporary withdrawal from the fleet
due TO accident 20 the machinery. 10
date the Florida. the Virginia, the MIN
ucsota and the South Carolina have not
held division practice since the au-
tumn Of 1912: the Louisiana and the
Connecticut not since the spring OF 1917.
"The Florida, the Utah, the North
Dakota, the Minnesota, the Connecticut
and the South Carolina have not held
day individual practice since the
spring of 1913, the New Jersey not since
the spring OF 1912 and the Vermont not
since the spring Of 1911. The Arkan-
sas has not held day individual prac-
tice since she was commissioned, ABOUT
two and half years ago.
"In the present year all battleshlps
except the Louisiana and the Kansas
have held elementary practice
Supporting the contention OF The
Tribune that the use of the battle fleet
for what was practically patrol duty
during the occupation of Vera Cruz
was waste of ships and personnel
were the recommendations and COM
ment of the General Board, convincing
evidence of the opposition throughout
the navy to the holding OF a costly fleet
in Vera Cruz's unwhoesome, torrid
harbor when half d dozen 1,5O0-ton
gunboats could have done their work.
The General Board recommended gun
boats IL remarked that the duties on
which the eighteen dreadnoughts and
battleships Of the navy had been en-
ployed was "gunboat duty and said;
This has been markedly demon
Gtrated during the last yer on the
Mexican coast. 1t would seem super
fuous to point out the harmful in
fuence this has on the efficiency and
traiuin,. of the feet for war, and the
general board advises strongly against
such practice whenever it can &c pos
sibly avoided
Ad.airals Badger and Fletcher told
the committee that despite the popu-
larity Of vocational training in the
navy, elementary education and the in
stitution Of primary schools for grown
men aboard battleships and cruisers
were unpopular among their supposed
benehciaries. The Deep Sea University
Extension plan was derided by the men
and despised by their teachers.
II remained for Rear Admiral Brad
ley A. Fike. aid for operations, 90
sum u, the deficiencies Of the navy Of
to-day even more strongly than has I 4
Tribune. Admiral Fiske spent day on
the witness stand. The following is a
syllabus of his testimony:
First-It would take five years to get
the fleet in condition to meet success
fully an effective enemy.
Second-lt would take three years TO
get the personnel up TO standa Of
efficiency necessary 10 enable 1t sue
cessfvlly to meet an effective enemy.
Third United States has no gem
cral plan of naval development inde-
pendent OF those framed 10 meet eco
nOmical eXigencies.
Fourth-The United States is de-
iicicnt in scou, cruisers, battle cruise s.,
destroyors and all other auXiliaries.
Fifth-An immediate necessity, If a
coherent plan Of naval development is
TO be followed out, is tie creation of a
naval General staff.
Sixth-Thc navy needs more target
PR cticc and greater efficiency in Il
branches in the cnce of merry.
Seventh Germany to-da. is probab. !