The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-10-28
BYRNES FAYORS DEFENSE
TO VOTE FOR INCREASE IN AP.
Preparation.
Should Improve Navy.-Regards
Coast FOrtifications an Essential
Part of Any Plan of Defense.

Aiken, Oct. 23.-Congressman Jas.
F. Byrnes is in sympathy with the
movement to improve the country's S
national defenses. I'm order to ac-
complish this / shall favor increased
appropriations for the army, navy and
coast Notifications, says Mr.. Byrnes.
,'I regard the coast Notifications
an essential part of any plan of de-
Tense. In order to garrison the forti-
6cations at Panama and other pos
sessions, the garrisons at all the
coast Notifications have been reduc-
ed to about one-third of their normal
strength. The extent of this reduc-
ton can be judged by the reduction
of the garrison at Sullivan's Island.
l believe We should provide a suffi-
cient force to garrison all of our
coast Notifications, and the latest
and most improved guns should be
constructed at all of these forts.
''Inasmuch as the army is not now
recruited to it's full strength, 1 do
not understand how the mere author
ization of congress for it's increase
will accomplish anything. If this
branch of the service has failed to
prove itself attractive to young men,
1 do not believe that legislation au-
thorizing an increase will induce
more of them to enlist. l think the
failure to secure a greater number of
recruits is due to the fact that our
people are not military people, and
they do not like military service.
That this is true is shown by the
large number of men in the navy who
fail to reinlist. Last spring the navy
department was severely criticised
because of the failure of the fleet to
make better showing in annual tar
get practice. By officials of the de-
partment this failure was attributed
to the fact that the size of the target
had been reduced, and in order to
save the guns full charge of powder
is no longer used, and with the re-
duced charge the accuracy is lessen
ed. But by captain of one of these
ships l have been Informed that the
failure to show an marked improve
ment in target practice is due to the
fact that so many men fail to rein
list, and gunners who had the ad-
vantage of target practice last year
have left the service and inexperienc-
ed men take part in practic eeachyear.
81 believe the improvement of the
navy of first importance and am
heartilyDin favor of an increased ap-
preparation for this branch of the
service. 1t should not be forgotten
that we have greatly increased the
naval appropriations. Up to 1897
the largest annual appropriation for
naval purposes was $40,OOO,OOO.
Since the Spanish-American war the
naval appropriation has been annual
ly increased until last year we ap-
propriated $l5o,oOO,ooo.
Before the naval committee, Off
cials of the department and officers of
the fleet admitted that the American
navy was second only to Great Bri-
tain. AS we have but 40 first-class
battleships and England has 72, it is
apparent that we cannot even by the
adoption of the plan now proposed
by the navy department hope to make
the American navy as large as that of
Great Britain. Nevertheless l believe
we should continue to improve it,
and while not prepared to commit
myself to the details of the plan pro-
posed at this time, I shall certainly
favor increased appropriations for
such purposes as in the opinion of
the naval board will best develop the
navy. 1t is certain that more subma-
rines will be authorized, that battle
cruisers will be built, and if conf
dence can be placed in the statements
of those who are acquainted with
naval conditions, the navy must be
furnished with a hospital ship, scout
cruisers and aeroplanes.
~ am frank to say that l do not
know where the money is coming
from for these increased appropria-
tions, unless bonds are issued. If be-
cause of lack of funds there is to be
any discrimination between the
branches of the service, l deem it
of far greater Importance that we
have an improved navy than that we
maintain a large standing army. |
believe the American people are OF
the opinion that no matter what it
costs, the navy should be improved
to the end that this country, so rap