Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-26

| ff"NNNe as ne nud wisely planneut
| put the sudden call for the expedi-
tion TO Vera Cruz demanded and ex-
acted unusual service to which the
ileet responded with an alacrity and
readiness which amply Justify the
iaith of the country that there exists
TO-DAY no more efficient institution
than the United States navy. Some
critics have said the efficiency of the
fleet was reduced by reason of going
to Vera Cruz To our regret, certain
maneuvers and target practice of
value were necessarily omitted. The
emergency experience, however. of a
year of stress and strain was of lar
greater value in one important re-
spect than the well-planned routine.
because II gave demonstration OF
the readiness of the navy in every de-
partment afloat and ashore TO meet
an urgent call. It's flexiblity was
shown in adjusting itself to entirely
new and unexpected situations, as we'll
as its remarkable adaptability In
handling every problem presented
to il.
Experience In Mexico.
"It must be conceded by all that
the best school and preparation for
war is war itself, aud IL was almost
under this condition that our fleet
acted in proceeding almost In day
to Mexican waters. The stay at vera
cruz however. did not prevent prac-
tice, for the ships individually or IN
divisions. during a great part OF the
time held tactical maneuvers, tofpe-
do-proving practice and sub-caliber
drills In preparation for target prac-
tice.
For many years, officers have
written and talked about the forma,,
ton of advance base material anu
the practice of exercising landing par
ties of seamen and marines in the
use of this important adjunct to ma
val warfare. Congress appropriated
money for this important plan Of
campaign, but never until January
of last year, was the navy thus eNer-
cised. There had been plenty Of talk
but not until January of last year
was it undertaken. Then. under in
structions from the department, Ad-
miral Badger carried out compre-
hensive exercise in which the profes-
sional advantages gained by officers
and men were inestimable. Three
months after this extensive practice
had been given for the first time in
our navy the same fleet and the same
men were called upon TO land at Vera
Cruz and in the taking of that city
the navy carried out, under lire, what
had been learned at Culebra
"These details are given because
every man knows that the efficiency
Of the navy depends upon constant
practice, but nobody in the navy
thinks anything like perfection has
been reached, and constant study
ana work are pursued with the aim
of continued Improvement. If the
fleet was efficient in any degree be-
fore Admirals Badger and Fletcher
carried out the drills thus detailed,
it is much more efficient today ana
viii be made more ready every year
All that capable and trained officers
aud men can do 10 accomplish TINS
steady improvement is being done.
only the uninformed or the partisan
deny the steady Improvement of the
past two years, thanks chiefly to Rear
Admiral Badger and Admiral
Fletcher.
As to Equipment.
But YOU say, how about equipment
and preparation for military emer-
gencies? What has been done since
wilson's Inauguration to make the
navy SIlOllPfT III ohiBaf az oifaftN+NA
ton i'm mines in torpedoes? Those
questions are of the utmost import
ance. Let me answer them briefly.
First, as to ships: During the last
two years of the Taft administration,
congress authorized the construction
Of two dreadnaughts to cost about
$4,000, 900 each During the tirst
two years of the Wilson administra-
ton. upon my recommendation, con-
gregs authorized the construction OF
five dreadnaughts to cost about $14,-
100000 each stated in dollars, the
Wilson administration, in its first
two years, authorized S70,000,0 900 to
be spent on the chief fighting force
of the navy, as against $26, ,0OOOOO
authorized during the last two years
of Taftis; stated in numbers, 1t au-
thorized five dreadnaughts instead OF
two; and stated in effectiveness the
five dreadnaughts authorized under
Wilson will mount thirty-siX more
14-inch guns than the two authorized
under Mr. Taft.
Second, as to submarines. These
wonderful agencies of war have as
tOnished the world in the present
European conflict The Sixty-third
congress, elected with Mr.. Wilson,
HuODteu MY W biNt
us all the money it could for subma-
rines 1t ordered the construction of
three sea-going submarines the
largest ever authorized by any coun-
try. and twenty-three submarines OF
the same size and type which have
done such fearful execution in the
present war, These submarines Will
cost $16.260,000. Now what was done
during the last two years under IattY
Twelve submarines to cost $195S,93b,
were authorized. Some of our subma-
rines are not as perfect as they
should be, nor are the submarines OF
anv other nation Under this admins
tration. however, the board Of in
spections has adopted stricter tests
before accepting submarines from
contractors Nobody has. as yet, per
fected "A satisfactory engine or satls-
factory battery for submarines. upon
my invitation, Mr.. Edison, last year.
at the New York navy yard, Went
down into a submarine and CLOSELY
studied every feature. lie thinks ne
has battery that Will meet the
need our tests at the Brooklyn navy
yard cause us to believe Mr.. Edison
has the right principle, without
waiting for the completion of his bat
terv. he has been given an order Tor
two. one to he put into an old SUB
marine. accepted before March q
1918. whose battery does not give
satisfaction. and one for a new SUB
marine which | have ordered ouilt ~
the Portsmouth IN. H) navy yaru.
Private firms building submarines
have not given entire satisfaction
We have equipped the Portsm NOUN
navy yard to build submarines, ana
-. rnrnncii1inn hnfMeen priNate anu