Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-13

kCOntlnuS0 from f-a&o OuosJ
in the lower grades. arrival at command
rank late in life and q fleeing passage
through command and flag gfadesA. com
bined with absolute lack OF professional
incentive throughout all grades" Of
Ulcers now hold tho grade Of captain for
an average Of two years. he says. and
are rear admirals for only six months
before retirement for age overtakes them.
About LEGO officers, he states, must pass
through the grades Of captain and rear
admiral in the next forty years under
the present plan.
Turning to the problem OF finding ade-
quate auxiliary ships for the navy In
war time, the secretary says he has not
included any vessels In his building pro
gram except those which must be used
constantly for the navy, In peace or war.
On a war basis. he adds, the navy would
need 900 additional ships. or tonnage OF
l,i72,oOc, to carry fuel and supplies and
do other auxiliary work. About $4,000
tons for this work could DO drawn from
the present merchant marine, he says.
but some method must be found TO supply
the rest.
Auxiliary Craft in Commerce.
THE solution for the government" the
report continues, is 70 construct, from
time TO time, a sufficient and suitable
auxiliary fleet. proportioned TO the needs
of the navy. and to have such auxtliaries
operated IN commerce during peace times
in such a way as viii preserve them and
train the essential naval reserve OF men,
and while doing this relieve the govern
ment OF the burden of cost OF mainte-
nance through the income or earnings
OF the vessels employed in commerce
such a policy would give to the navy.
without cost for Its operation during
peace. a perfect auxiliary. OF course.
| these ships should be built upon navy
plans and manned by American citizens
trained under navy regulations, which
would make them efficient I'm time of
war"
In recommending again the construction
Of a government armor-plats factory and
also urging that a proieetile factory be
added 10 the nayy's equipment. and that
every navy yard be equipped tor con-
struction as well as repair work. Seere-
tary Daniels again lays stress on his
theory that the government should be
able 20 build any part Of the equipment
needed for the navy from battleships to
seroplane motors In order that true CON-
petition Of private bidders for govern
ment contracts may be obtained. together
with an actual knowiedge OF what the
cost OF construction should be.
In addition 20 the foregoing the report
| General recommendation.
includes the following recommendations
| 4 An Increase Of ii50o mon IN the en-
listed personnel OF the navy and marine
oorps; an adequate increase Of officers
10 be provided by charging the force OF
unidshipmen az the Naval academy to the
suu capacity Of the institution. by adj
hitting 70 junior grades and for engineer
ing duty only graduates OF technical
schools, and by opening to civilian
aviators the navy aviation oorpa
:. Extension Of the navy reserve act
for the purpose OF forming reserves OF
mower boats. aviators and radio operators
ana to Increase the des rability of the re-
serve service to honorably discharged en-
listed men Of the regular navy. A co
tailed plan In this connection will be
presented 10 congress at a later date.
The personnel of the present naval
auxiliary service should be placed In the
naval reserve. the report says. and the
light house and coast service men and
equipment also should be placed under
navy jurisdiction and training for use IN
event Of war.
Increased naval militia appropriations
TO include the construction OF suitabia
vessels FOR the Illinois and Minnesota de-
tachments and supplying aerOplanes foE