The Washington herald., 1915-01-03
More Efficient Navy Urged.

There no longer is any doubt that
strong impression is being made upon the
country by the campaign for army and
navy preparedness. This is not disputed
by any one. Washington knows that the
propaganda Is producing its effect upon
the nation, and whether or not II results
Immediately in expanding the two great
budgets for national defense. there is no
estion as to what will be its ultimate
fruit.
Rear Admiral Bradley F. Fiske's state
ment before the House Naval Affairs
Committee that five years are necessary
to place the navy on plane of compare
tive efficiency indicates the real sentiment
OF naval officers on this subject. Other
officials have tried TO temper their con-
victions with assurances that the situa-
tiOn lis not as bad as it has been paint
ed, their idea being, apparently, to keep
away from sensational discussion of the
question. But most of these conserva-
tives will indorse every word which Ad-
miral Fiske has spoken.
Admiral Fiske says the most vital de-
feet OF the navy is in scientific gunnery.
contrary to the popular belief that the
American sailor is as good a gunner as
any in the world, il not better than any
other. Fiske is an authority on this sub
ject having been rangefinder aboard the
Olympia, Admiral Deweys flagship, at
the famous battle of Manila Bay, and
has a distinguished scientific record. He
does not deny the fact that the personnel
Of each American dreadnought is at the
highest standard, that each fighting unit
of the Yankee navy reaches a high point
of efficiency. What he does say, however,
is that our gunnery is falling behind be-
cause 1t lacks the thorough, steady, re-
lentless, consistent target practice that
prevails in many foreign navies. particu-
larly Germany's: We do not study the
latest mechanical and scientific equipment
closely enough. and are reluctant to spend
money for it, because it seems so much
like waste in times of peace, he says.
Now the soul of naval warfare is
gunnery." and the slightest fraction of
superiority means the difference between
victory and defeat. For this reason
navy officials declare that all the millions
spent on the navy may he wasted unless
the fighting machines of Uncle Sam are
kept at the highest notch of efficiency.
There is one phase of the subject that
has not been opened. 1t is one which the
Navy Department does not desire to see
opened. but ii is of the highest popular
interest, and sooner or later the mind of
the public-and through it the mind of
COngress-is going to be turned upon
ii. II is this: Are the people of the
United States getting their moneys
worth for the millions they spend on the
navy? Is the Navy Department admin
istered economically? In comparison with
European standards of expenditure. it
would apear not, for Germany, with
a navy which is now distinctly superior,
numerically speaking. to the American,
spends much less money upon it, and
even Great Britain, with a navy more
than triple that of the United States,
spends less than twice as much for II,
as the American people do for theirs.
That the navy is not as efficient as
it should be is doubtless a fact, for
experts are almost unanimous in saying
so. There Is rapidly crystallizing in
Congress a faction determined that econ
Omy within the navy can be made to
remedy many Of the glaring defects now
complained of. 1t is along these lines
that the battle for larger appropriations
is going to be fought, and it is certain
to be bitter.