Arizona republican., 1915-10-31
Two National Defense Scnools

There are two schools of thought struggling with the subject of national defense. Both advocate a larger navy each would procure it in different way. Each would have congress make liberal pro vision for the navy. of them would have the activities of congress confined to the mere act of making appropriation that thenceforth experts or so-caIed experts should have unrestricted power to dispose of the money. The other would have con-
 ress retain the transaction in all it's de- tails until the last cent had been expended Neither school gets heart of the matter. the obtaining for the money of dollars worth of good for every dollar expended.
 It is manifestly impossible for group 500 men most of whom warshp before their congressional service began to entertain any val uable ideas regarding the building of a navy. Even the naval committees of the two houses are not usually made up of distinguished for their familiarity with naval matters
 In the past, congress has impatienty heard and not needed the advice of experts and has received little or no advice from men actively connected with the navy High officers brought before congressional committees have almost uniformly disinclination inability give infor- nation testimony concerning important matters. An admiral does like tell a committee palatable facts. for instance, that is in that of any frst-class power. Such truth fuI frankness would bring him into disfavor with the secretary. who is a judge of navies. and would cause him no end of trouble
 Naval officers say sometimes. only for pubca- Jion. that for and ship for ship navy the equal any earth" amazing statement. officer would swift to plain that half the submarines Atlantic coast junk In August, 1914. analysis of the navys sunnery given in magazine. which stated that battle practice the fleet scored about 95 per hits" is an official. though widely published that in the indi- ydual target practice of batleships last spring our giant guns according to the report the umpire. did hit the target than about every eight shots. According to the Navy and Marine Corps List and Directory" published by the navy department last July, have thirty-eight submarines actually completed. The number in cudes the F4. lately fished the bottom of the sea near Honolulu The nine oldest submarines are in eastern waters. Eleven the Pacific coast. Five the Panama canal and thirteen are on the Atlantic After months of preparation twelve Of these thirteen made ready for the naval review in New York May and six of them broke down in the maneuvers following the review
 We have shown how account of the reluc- tance of naval officers testify difficult for congress, if it is really seeking information to get at the facts regarding the needs the navy They certainly obtainabIe from the navy department Between the ignorance of congress and pork barrel" instincts which are favorable to the scattering of useless navy yards sta tions through many line congressional dis tricts possible securing big appropriations for them. much constructive effort to be ex- pected of congress beyond the making apropria- tions- Nor will it be easy. except the face of great national peril to persuade congress to share its with experts. But we believe that it will he possible for the Navy League the great influence it is accommodating throughout the country to persuade congress to provide for a systematic and businesslike direction of the expenditure of ap propriations by experts
 We are not immediately faced by a great national peril but We have been plainly shown within the last sixteen months that a national peril may be lurking anywhere just below the horizon