Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-06-15
EX-SECRETARY OF
NAVY POINTS OUT
SHORTCOM|NGS
GEORGE Won L. MEYER ASSERTS
AMERICAN NAVY is DETERIOAT-
ING TO INEFFICIENCY.
LACK OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF
NAvY'S CONDITION is AMONG
THE CRITICISMS.
lI;y Associaicd Press.)

VIZ @hHTfAA'ffn y AfNM+f
New York. June H.. George Won T..
Meyer. who was secretary Df the Navy
in President Taft's Cabinet. addressing
the Peace and Preparation Conference
of the National Security League at Lam
chcon today. asserted that the American
Navy is dctcriorating. outlined the re-
.SpcctS in which h. believed such Ia IT,
the ease and urged that investigation Of
the national defense and a cumprchcn-
.Sivc plan for the future should bc made
obligatory upon the next Congress.
I.ack ~ battle cruisers. air~hip>. arm
Ell acroplancs and men. lack of "A naval
reserve Of experienced men. lack of a
comprehensive policy uf national de-
fcn>r. lack Of general public knowledge
.uf the naNN'> condition.. reduction of
compliments Of some ships - uan other
and newer ships and general %unprrparcd-
ness on the part of many hattlc>hip>
aud other fighting units were
ted ~ n>tanccS Of naval infcriority. Mr..
Never, said. III part:
"Of the thirty three battlc>hipS we
have only twenty one that are fitted for
service without long delay. Furthermore
We have about seventy miscellaneous
fighting ships not prepared for service
~ ease 81 emergency.
We lack battle cruisers. air>hipS and
armed Hrr planes.
Our Submarines are in a crippled con
diti.r
The rrwrl myut If All torpedo d.
>lrulrr~ h~ htru reduced from fifteen
I" lMNniN iiyr '"r cont W. Get mrn tn
commission uc"h sf~. This reduction in
personnel ~ Y ~eria , hludicap. reduces
the efficiency ~ thr dc~trNrrS. affects
c"nicntmrnt. and rr.trHi> the boat a.
lng kept ia good cnnii i %
The Atlantic Fleet alone ur.'> ; hn
more men.
The Reserve Fleet at philalrlrhfl
WAS largely depleted in order Ia .rt wy
crew for the Alabama when She MAS ur-
dcrcd e. Hampton Roads Ia enforce n-u
%trality.
The review III New York this year
was 4 poor imitation VI previous ~
views ~ that the Reserve ilcct was all
sent. II WAS 4 mere parade. not 4 mob
llization. II did not indicate the true
condition ~ the navy because the pee
pie did not know the truth.
For lack If men. ships are laid M
at navy wards. where they rapidly dctr
rinratr. like Il vacant home. al small
ships aud all cruisers now laid up for
lack ~ men are needed in McNico and
elsewhere. and should IT, ready for an
emergency call "a prevent the rmplny.
mcnt IF hattlc>hipS ~ gunbnat duty.
The complement of enlisted men al shore
stations and training stations has been
cut down. with a decided loss Of cniricn-
Icv; and greatly 60 the discomfort and
disc mfort of the men.
To enumcratc the >hipS in the navy
and make q list Of new ships authorized
gives no idea whatever If the true con
'itinn ~ the navy ~ ~ It's readiness
Tor VAR. ships without men are little
used. and n navy without a policy and
with y well considered organization at
the NHvv Department will only invite
n condition If chaos in event Of war.
The statement nj Assistant Secretary
y v that We need lS.nun men j.
uuiulihfc,llN ,rur. The navy : ~,ctcrio
rating for lack of men. The target prac-
ticc this year j. no better than il was
ten wears ago.
Congress II negligent in not having
established a national council Of defense
"A general staff. and an organized naval
reserve If 10000 experienced men.
In calling attention "a these defects
] have not lone So for the sake Of crit
So - -