Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-29
NAVY IS RECRUITED
TO FULL STRENGTH
Secretary Daniels, in Letter to
President Garfield of Will
liams, Describes Pres
ent Conditions.

washington, April h-oecretarS Ddh-
els has made public a letter he has writ
EN- to President Garfield OF Williams
College, detailing the work in the navy
Turing the last two years Mr.. Daniels
wrote in reply to Mr.. Garfields request
or material to meet statements that
he United States Is unprepared for mill
larry emergencies. The letter follows;
My dear President Garfield:
II am in receipt of your recent favor
skiing foran authoritative statement con-
erning the present status of the navy
upipment Of the United States and take
leasure in complying with your request
IS far as compatible.
There are now in active service. fully
commissioned, 225 vessels of all tharac-
prs, which is s. more than were fully
pmmissonerd when became secretary
here are also 10l vessels OF various
pes. in reserve and In ordinary and UNI
commissioned, capable of rendering serv-
Q in war. We have under construction
nd authorized II vessels (nne dread
aughts % destroyers, 3s submarines and
wen auxiliarie9 as compared with 81
esses Give dreadnaughts, IA destroyers,
submarines, gunboats and nine aux
ares) which were under construction
March /, 1913
r'All the vessels enumerated. those in
tive service and those in reserve, are
ppled with munitions of war No navy
axes public the quantity of ammunition
id torpedoes, mines and other imple-
ents of naval warfare, which Ii keeps
lady. 1t may be said, however that
thin the last two years the quantity of
has been steadily and greatly in
eased. For example we have in
eased the number of mines, on hand
d in process of manufacture, by pa per
mt. With reference to torpedocs, the
crease in two years has been 30 per
ut. BY the enlargement Of the naval
WIDER factory, we shall soon be able
most to double it's former capacity, and
o enlargement of the torpedo works
the equipment of plant to construct
mes will still further increase at de-
,ased cost, the quantity OF such stock
the possession of these plants in
hes of emergency will enable the de-
rtment to be in a better state of pre-
redness as regards the supply of am
milton, than ever before.
The personnel of the navy is at present
imposed of 1856 line, staff and warrant
icers, and 53,171 enlisted men. Increases
the number of officers is dependent
most entirely upon the output &c the
val Academy, admission to which is
tricted by statute. The number Of en-
ed men also is restricted, and the
W is to-day recruited to the maximum
ength allowed. There are now with
colors 5,S24 more men-an increase
h2 per cent.-than there were on March
1914.
AS GOOD AS TWO YEARS AGO.
My professional training as jour
list has always inclined me to The
|viction that any officer, within tho
scribed limits recognized in the navy.
Pud feel free to express his opinion
regard to matters in the service; and
ne is not an officer who commands
Bhip to-day who could or would say
his ship, without or within, was
as good as it was two years ago, or
the officers who command it AMI
crews who man it, are not as
roughly disciplined sober, loyal and
Client as they were two years ago. or
they ever had been.
The Atlantic fleet has just returned
N Guantanamo where it has for many
rs held its annual winter practices
year more battleships and destroy
have participated in the manouvers
for longer period than ever be-
Under the direction Of Admiral FLEET
r. upon plans evolved at the Naval
College and approved by the de-
ment the fleet has been busted Ia
les to try out its efficiency and
Illness. All reports tell Of the en-
siasm of officers ana men in this
>tfce and the splendid record made |
the ships. The fleet Is now in |
gter Sound and on the southern drill |
Inds, where it will be busy in target |
,tice until May when it moves to New
for a weeks well earned leave. |
n will come the review at New York, !
WED by maneuvers in Narraga nsett
region, and finally the review in
upton Roads prior to sailing through |
Panama canal to the Pacific en- route
he exposition at San Francisco.
these spring practices followed |
upon the heels of valuable ma |
Fcrs and tactics in October, No |
Der and December last. This was
ed strenuous practice, but 1t is |
WAY the navy is kept fit and ready, |
the new admiral in command of
fleet and the department planned
extensive evolutions because the
way that the navy can be always
AIRED is by practice and practice
then more practice. This simple
ement of the operations of the fleet
October Is one of the best an
$ ! can give to your question as
he navy's preparedness. The ne
ty of keeping ships in Mexico last
denied Admiral Badger the op-
unity for as long practice as he
wisely planned, but the sudden |
for the expedition to Vera Cruz |
nded and exacted unusual service |
hich the fleet responded with an |
fity and readiness which amply |
~ the faith of the country that
exists to-day no more efficient |
ution than the United States |
Some critics have said the ef-
cy of the fleet was reduced by
IN of going to Vera Cruz To our
t, certain maneuvers and target
ice or value were necessarily
ed. The emergency experience,
yer, of year of stress and strain
of far greater value in one i'm
mt respect than the well-planned
ne. because 1t gave demonstra-
of the readiness of the navy in |
department, afloat and ashore,
eet an urgent call. Its fexibility
shown in adjusting itself to en-
new and unexpected situations,
ell as it's remarkable adaptable
handling every problem pre-