The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
n, GEORGE NON L.. MEN En-.
Ex-Sccrrtnr, of the Navy.

uo.ro~. May The Secretary of
a.. \1,Ns reply to the request Of prcs-
scr, Harry \. Garfield of Williams
Cnll,eo for an authoritative statement
concerning the present status OF the
navy equipment OF the United States
,saves much ~ I've desired in the way
OF information.
The Secretary neglects TO state, when
>, refers TO the last two years of the
Taf, Administration, that tho House
y, Representatives.. which originates
aprruprlations. was In control of the
democrats on account of the bye
elections. That they went into caucus
and voted no hattlcships." 1t was on
rho issue that no party could afford %
caucus on patriotism, placed before
the people 10y some of the leading
papers at my request. that we broke the
caucus and obtained very grudgingly
from the Democrats one battlesnip for
each OF the remaining two years.
The war and the campaign OF edu-
cation Oh national defence has Influenced
Congress IN making more liberal appro-
rristions. hut the third hattleship MT
Daniels obtained was made possible by
the sale Of the Idaho and Mississippi
10 Greece. using the fund derived from
this transaction FOR an additional dread
rough, But the Idaho and Mississippi
we're both modern ships. built in 1901.
and while President Wilson's sale was
A good business transaction II will not
apparently increase our tonnage.
Near Age Limit.
=, should also he noted that the
INDIANA Massachusetts and oregon can
70 longer be- included IN our tonnage list.
That the Iowa. kearsarge. Kentucky
and Alabamd will reach their age limit
~ 1915. while the Illinois, Wisconsin.
Maine. ohio and Missouri are due for
replacement by 1920. as battleships be-
come obsolete in twenty years.
II IL Obvious. therefore. that policy
uursued according to this years pro-
rramme Of two battleships with certain
agNiliAIies. no scout cruisers and no
battle cruisers will lead nowhere II 1t is
the real purpose of the nation to have an
adequate navy. for we are not even
following a programme of new construc'
ton Intended to replace those vessels
which have been or will soon be con-
demned because unfit for service on
account OF age.
Whl,. as the Secretary has stated
the navy is to-day recruited to its maxi
mum strength (Which is due 10 the de-
creased demand Cor labor in various
lines OF trade throughout. the United
States. yet the commander in chief OF
the fleet, IN communication TO the
Nayal Academy, gives the opinion that
the fleet lacks in its complete equipment
about 900 men and a number ~ officers
To put all the ships IN cominissioa
that Gould he useful IN time "f wa
would require 5000 additional men and
many officers. according to Admra
Badger In his evidence before the Nav u
Committee last winter. and We. in M
letter the geCretHrN assures the pubic
thA, the navy OF 1915 is larger, better
EQUIPPED and in better condition
than in any previous year. whH
experts know that this j. impossible
s0gt many Of the Oa,tleships have beei
retained 50 long in Mexico that heel
H. puvring. vital FOR efficiency, has
bee terribly nampered and interferee
49,.
I'll. naval conflicts Of the Europcai
wa have emphasized the importance /"
sp,.j range and armament. The
Duc.e., faster than any Of our ships
YEA, destroyed because she was slowe'
than any of the other ships in the con
ac,. Vet we are building no fas
cruisers or. battle cruisers. The Score
'ar', 90 his enthusiasm over our ~ incl
guns. which he says viii shoot furth' ~
-.uu' ,.r.ighter and hit harder than any
al gun now la use, overlooks IN
f.,' that Japan has h. commission an'
tu0d.ug cigh, naval ships with ~ incl
80, probably as good as our II incl
-urs. ava that England has the Queer
+ zth,;N M commission with ], mel
suns. ul,tleship OF over 21,0oo tons
N.'H q speed of - llHots, and nine othe
can.'A ships building with ~ inch guns
The war has de monstrated the nee'
ara value f aircraft. The genera