Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-12-12

now become an indispensable naval
adjunct.
I'VE are but in the infancy of air
craft The development in the manu-
facture OF these craft in this country
needs to be stimulated, ard the sue
cess Of this arm Of the military serv-
ice abroad will be mighty stimulus
to American manufacturers.
Orders were given early I'm the
year for some foreign built aero
planes. in addition to larger orders
for aeroplanes made In thus country
| Unfortunately, the war made IT i'm
possible for the orders placed abroad
to be filled. and the trial OF such craft
must be postponed. The best types
of American manufacture have been
ordered, and the department Will de-
velop this modern branch Of the naval
service steadily and rapidly"
The general board does not take
the same view. Its report refers to It's
recommendation in 1913 which
| brought to the attention Of the de-
| partment the dangerous situation OF
the country in the lack Of aircraft and
airmen in both the naval and military
services At the present time the to-
tai number Of aircraft OF any kind
owned by the navy consists of II
aeroplanos, not more than two Of
which are Of the same type, and all
! reported to have too little speed and
| carrying capacity for service work.
In our present condition OF un-
| prepai edness in contact with any foe
! possessing a proper air service, our
scouting would be blind. We would
! be without the means Of detecting the
presence of submarines or mine fields
! or Of attempting direct attack on the
enemy from the air, while our own
movements would be an open book TO
! him. The general board cannot too
strongly urge that the departments
most serious thought be given TO this
! matter, and that congress be asked
| for an appropriation Of at least So
! 600, goo for the purpose OF csta blish-
! ing an efficient air service"
Financial conditions resulting from
the European war have caused the
/ department to refrain from asking
I this year for an Increase I'm person
mel. Secretary Daniels states. but says
plan Will be presented to congress
next session for the organization OF a
/ competent naval reserve force from
! the men who receive honorable dis
! charges from the navy.
The general board lays great stress
| on the question Of personnel
The board" the report says, can
not too strongly urge the repeated
recommendation to provide the fleet
with personnel active list and
! trained reserve, equal TO the manning
OF the fleet for war. In the opinion
OF the general board this is a matter
OF even more serious import than that
of construction, for It cannot be too
often repeated that ships without a
trained personnel to man and fight
them are useless for the purposes Of
war. The general board recommends
legislation for an active personnel, Of
fiCers and enlisted force, capable Of
keeping in full commission all battle
ships under / years OF age from date
Of authorization, all destroyers and
submarines under ~ years Of age
from authorization, half Of the cruis-
ers and all gunboats and all the
necessary auNiliaries that go with the
active fleet, and Of furnishing nucleus
crews for ali ships in the navy that
would be used in time OF war, and
the necessary men for the training
and other shore stations"
Secretary Daniels again urges that
the grades OF admiral and vice nd
mlral be restored and giving consld-
Vera Cruz by United States naval
forces. pays tribute to the 19 men who
lost their lives there. The entire rec
ord OF Vera Cruz. the secretary
states, Is "a remarkable demonstra-