The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-07-30
BY &. X. RoDEN, Director of the Navy
League.

~
League.
So much unfair criticism Of the navy
department in general. and of the
secretary Of the navy In particular. has
appeared In the press lately as to al
most prejudice public opinion in re-
gard to the efficiency and homogeneity
of our naval defense. One writer and
public speaker after the other is taking
their turn In assailing Secretary Daniels
and his administration of the navy. IL
these attacks were made In good faith
they would be ~pardonable. but as a
matter Of fact the attacks are for po-
litical effect rather than from any real
understanding OF naval conditions.
Representative Gardner of Massa-
chusetts, who seems to have assumed
the leading role In the attacks made
ON what Is termed naval inefticiency,"
is about as capable a judge of naval
affairs as is the man in the street. Yet,
II statements made by Mr.. Gardner
concerning the navy were true, the
million dollars of the taxpayers money
spent during the last fifteen years on
the upbuilding and maintenance Of our
navy would be so much money thrown
to the winds.
Fortunately such is not the case.
Any person of ordinary intelligence
who will take the trouble In looking
over the statistics of the navy will find
hat the expenditures made on our
naval defense nave been money wisely
spent indeed. From a small beginning
with the white squadron upon lines
similar with other maritime nations,
the United States has advanced so
rapidly In naval construction as to
have overtaken and passed all but the
two leading naval powers of the world,
and today our navy, which for many
years was considered by European and
even by South American nations as
altogether unworthy of consideration,
is recognized as a factor of tremendous
significance In the international affairs
Of the world.
1t IL only fair that credit be given
where credit Is due. The navy should
not be made the object of partisan jug
glery at n time and least of al! at
the present time.
Five First Class 6attlsshlps.
Perhaps the most noteworthy accom-
plishment of recent years Is the au-
thorized construction of five first class
battleships, to cost about $14,000,000
each. The addition OF other units to
the navy has been In the same proper
ton. At the present time there are I'M
der construction twenty-three destroy
ers. thirty-eight submarines, three gun
boats and seven auxiliaries. The pro-
duction of supplies Of munitions for
the increased size of the navy has kept
pace with requirements. Thus the In
crease In number OF mines IN hand and
I'm process of manufacture is 244 per
cent and In t~orredoes 80 per cent. The
powder factory at Indian Head has
been enlarged, so that when the ex-
tension now under way Is completed
its capacity will be nearly doubled.
The critics of the navy lament the
utter unpreparedness of our fighting
units and Its lack OF battle efficiency,
due. they claim, to lack of practice.
But they do not know that during the
last fifteen months more battleships
and destroyers have participated In
tactical maneuvers for a longer period
OF time than ever before I'm the history
Of the service. The critics may not be
aware OF the fact that under the direc-
ton OF Admiral Fletcher, upon plans
evolved at the naval war college and
approved by the department, the feet
has been busted In tactics to try out
its efficiency and readiness. All re-
ports tell of the enthusiasm of offi-
GERS and men In this practice and the
splendid record made by the ships.
Enlistment Up to Limit.
Again, so far as the enlisted person
mel of the navy is concerned, for the
first time I'm years Is the enlistment UP
to the limit prescribed by law, and this
has been accomplished, not by lower.
ing the standard OF admission to the
service, but by making the service
more attractive TO the young men OF
the unt
1t will not be amiss to state that to
Secretary Daniels belongs the credit
and honor of having carried into effect
evolutions that have placed the naval
service upon a footing 1t never had be.
fore. l refer to the new system of pro-
motion, by which capable enlisted men
are given chances TO advance In the
service. This system, Notwithstanding
the opposition Ii has met with In some
quarters, Is bound to work about a
transformation In the personnel of the
navy. 1t will substitute for the care
less, r~ollicking seaman Of former days
an entirely new type Of man-of-wars-
m~an-active, alert. intelligent and edu-
Gated. respecting himself and respected
by his officers. well paid. we'll fed and
well clothed. surrounded by comforts
Of which the seafaring man Of a score
or more years ago knew nothing, with