The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-25
NATIONAL DEFENSE
y ISSUE LOOMS LARGE
Agitation Produces Profound
and Rapidly Increasing I'M
preston of Congress.


GOWN Is having a profound effect on
Congress. II is even having an effect
IN Admin stration circles. and is COM
Dcllinz officials who at first stood out
absolutely against any change in mill
taTv or naval policy 90 shift their po-
s.t.or.
Tho full effects OF the discussion of
ne subject of unpreparedness are not
s0t disc-rnible IN Congress. They will
not be until the navy. army and forth
icstions bills have passed both bodies.
The consideration of each one OF these
bills will be the occasion for debates
n both houses with respect to the
defense policy which will be startling
in their frankness. It cannot yet be
Eoretold just what the results will be
IN legislation, but there is no doubt
That The leaders who are opposing any
augmentation OF preparation VIII find
themselves unable entirely to dictate
policies in this respect.
Already, at the Capitol. there Is serI-
Gus talk to the effect that the swelling
dee OF public sent Inent in favor of a
naval and military policy, at once ra-
uonal and adequate, neither m litarist
nor pacifcist, is likely to force a spec al
session next spring. In the meantime,
efforts will be made to take several
Nth the three military bills.
Daniels For Reserve.
Although Secretary of the Navy Dan
els has been one of the officials who
1sve taken the position that this coun-
Try was adequately prepared. he has
given way to the extent Of sending
20 the House naval committee a COM
nunication recommending that in the
naval bill provision be made for a ma
al reserve, composed of honoraSly dis
charged enlisted men. The reco nmen-
oation win probably be adopted. In
The opinion of naval men, It will be
helpful in remedyins the situation
caused BY the lack OF sufficient trained
personnel TO man the navy ships.
Those who have from the first in
sisted that the navy was lacking and
that 1t was time something be done to
gut it into q state Of effectiveness are
.ieased at the recommendation. They
believe the naval reserve is needed and
Thy consider that the practical adm.s-
sion of Secretary Daniels that the navy
Leeds a trained reserve Will have an
important moral effect in Congress IN
hat it will demonstrate that Mr.. Dan
Jels himself really feels the iayy
shrould be brought 20 more up-to-
nate standard
Not only will Congress probably pro-
vide for q naval reserve but the dis
position Of the naval committee Is to
enlarge On the Secretary's recommen-
dations for construction. The commit
zee viii recommend TWO oreadnaughts
AIld viii in other respects come up TO
Mr. Daniels recommendations and fur
Their than that will provide literally
FOR submarines, aircraft and aryilia-
lies. Talk today is that the committee
may provide for as many as nineteen
submarines The number win rot be
less than twelve and may be more.
Battle Cruisers Favored.
Both il the committee and on the
roor, there viii be a strong movement
% augment the construction program
D. providing Tor one or more SWIFT
cruisers. IT Least one battle cruiser
Will be urged by some OF the friends
Of a greater aI-y. Il is admitted even
~ memt,ys ~ t4e naval committee Of
Lhs HoUs. who 20 along with the ad-
yniutstratioH that this country Is
strangely behind the navies OF the other
powers in SWIFT arrnorsd cruisers. and
aattle cruisers, and this at time when
L. developments OF tho European war
nave shown The value Of speed in naval
craft
Ir. Daniels said in his communication
o the House Committee:
IF this amendment be enacted into
lew the most important and necessary
means for promoting the efficiency OF
me navy viii be provided. First, II VIII
make available 4 reserve organization
u trained C,en . supplement the Fegu-
ar esta olishneut in time OF war. Sec
nd, II will increase the efficiency Of
ne regular navy by Offering sub
stantiaI i-dUcemert 10 men TO continue
n the service for periods Of twelve, SIX
zen and twenty years.
Quotes the Records.
Tn. principal features OF the amend
neEt are a. follows:
Men who have had twenty years
= honorsble service may, upon their
Jwn application, be transferred to
he reserve o- half pay; those Of six
zen years service, with one-third
gay; those %. L--elYe years service,
nth SO per aTuum; those q four
ears service, with so per annUm,
and those now IL civil life who have
been honcTably discharged within
three years may enlist IN the naval
reserve and receive pay at the rate
Of 81 per anuum and be furnished
With uniform clothing outfit. Pro-
-,sion is made for scr Odical assemb-
ling for muster inspection and drill"
II his letter 10 the committee Secre-
'ary Daniels also said:
The records u the \ury Depart
-lenr fOr the last tLroe years indi-
cate that there is an annual aver
age 0! sbcSt 80 men honarably
discharged from the service who do
not re-eulist in the navy. hut take
up civil pursuits. The greater pro-
portion OF these men quit the scry-
ice after only one enlistment.
= is believed that Tive legislation
-sre!u proposed offers an induce
-lent which viii cause more OF these
experienced men 10 remain Longer
10 the regular ScTviC. and that
rractica.lir All those who do not re-
enlist in tc navy viii nevertheless
enlist in ta' naval reserve.
n other words, the number o.
men annually lost 20 the service VII
De greatly reduced. Each re-eulIst-
Ment IN the navy caves the Govern
merit the cos Of an outfit Of cloth
1ng and tue time and money spent in
training and recruiting. The cost
Of an outfit furnished recruit. $50
VIII alone cover the annual pay OF
y.!e erliStcc member Of the reserve
;"ho has raG o ght or more years
-@ryice IN the navy.
Nr. Dan!elI gave the following table
~ navy and their length Of service
N June -. 1871:
Under four years. 34.o2..
More thar four years and less
than eight years. 1888.
More thar eight years and less
Than twelve years, l.J2e.