The Detroit times., 1914-05-04

tic over his task OF directing this big
lighting machine, has a plan in view
that Will make the navy even more
attractive for enlisted men. II has
been claimed that the enlisted man
does not have an opportunity TO rise.
which is true. Daniels has asked con-
gress TO authorize him 10 select 20
men from the navy, not over 81 years
old, who, after examination, shall be
eligible TO entrance 10 the Naval
academy at Annapolis This is the
most progressive step ever attempted
by the American navy
Members OF the Isthmian canal com
mission and other friends who are
planning 10 attend
Current Of the wedding OF
Mlrafores Locks. Miss Pacific and
Mr.. Atlantic have
been somewhat disturbed recently by
the news OF a disagreeable incident
that happened at one OF the rehear-
sails. II seems that at the lower end
OF the Mirafores locks there is a
troublesome current OF from three TO
four miles an hour that flows into the
locks chamber and against the yes
sci that is endeavoring to proceed.
The curious feature is that although
the water in the lock is entirely level
with that outside, the current per
sists N travelling into the lock The
scientific sharps who were sent TO the
scene TO make observations reported
that the current was caused by the
difference between the density OF the
sea or salt water outside the lock and
the half-fresh, half-salt water inside
the lock. The half-fresh. water has
less density than the sea water, con-
sequently when the gates are opened
the heavier water thrusts its way in
ward against the lighter, causing a
current opposed 10 the outward pas
sage OF a vessel
The scientific experts who make this
explanation offer as an illustration of
the difference In the density OF fresh
and salt water that chewing gum VIII
float IN sea water but not in fresh.
Thay also add that this difficulty, be.
ing temporary, causes no serious IN.
convenience and is being studied prin-
Icipally 10 determine accurately the
conditions for the manipulation OF the
towing locomotives.
While the present difficulty with Mex
leo has temporarily put the soft pedal
upon the peace ad-
The Peace yocates In congress
Movement. lest they be misun-
derstood by a pa
triouc constituency, there Is every
evidence during recent years that the
white-dove movement is growing
among the representatives from all
parts OF the country, and that, unless
sentiment changes, it is going to be
increasingly difficult TO obtain for the
United States greater navy.
Four members OF the house naval
committee, all Democrats - Reps,
Witherspoon, OF Mississippi; Hensley.
Of Missouri: Buchanan, of Illinois, and
| Gray, OF Indiana-haye come out with
violent attack upon the amount OF
appropriations proposed in the naval
bill for the next fiscal year. In their
minority report, which has meet with
much harsh criticism since the feet
\ was sent to Mexican waters, they say
1--WE regard the amount, $l3S ,964,335,
| as ineXcusably extrayagant and a
criminal waste of the public funds.
| Within the past 13 years we have
spent on our navy more than billion
| dollars in excess OF the sum spent
by Japan, and $500 600, 900 in excess
| of the sum spent by Germany, and
during this period we have spent
about S1lO00,000 per annum more
than Germany and japan both to-
gether, and about $6,000Q09 per an
mum more than France and Japan put
| together"
The minority OF the committee
charges the navy department with a
plain violation of'the statutes through
alleged manipulation of the approprla'
tions. The members say that the act
OF 1912, which authorized the construc.
ton OF the battleship Pennsylvania,
expressly provided that ii should have
cas- heavy armor and as powerful arm.
ament as any vessel Of its class" and
that the act which authorized the
construction OF battleship No. 80 used
the same language with reference 10
that vessel, but that the navy depart
ment, ignoring the wishes OF congress,
constructed both with much heavier
armor and a much more powerful
armament OF its class, and, therefore,
at a much heavier cost The anna
ment OF these two ships, they say,
exceed the armament Of any American
or German vessel of their class 90 per
cent, and that of any English vessel
of its class 20 per cent,
1.-The manifest object of congress,
saw the committee members, I'm re-
fusing to authorize two battleships In
each OF the last bills, was to effect
reduction in the public expenditures,
and by building the Pennsylvania ana
No. SO with so much heavier armor
and so much more powerful arma-
ment than any vessel OF their class in
violation OF the acts OF congress, the
navy department has to a large ex.
tent defeated the legislative will, and
this explains why the first item IN
the bill is s4,000,000 or S5,o00.OOO