The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-06-15
-0eorgo von nerlenced men.

New York, June ts.-Georgo Won
l.. Meyer, who waa secretary OF tho
navy In President Tan's cabinet, adj
dressing the peace and preparation
conference OF the National Security
league at luncheon today. asserted
that the American navy 10 d%cterior-
ating. outlined the respects In which
he believed such TO he the case and
urged That investigation &c the ma
tional defense and IA comprchensiv,
plan for the future should be made
obligatory upon the next congress.
Lack " hattie cruisers, airships,
armed aeroplanes and men, lack OF =
naval reserve OF experienced men,
lack Of "a comprehensive policy Of ma
tional defense, lack OF general public
knowledge OF the navy's condition,
roductiO1 " compliments OF some
ships 10 man other and newer ships
and general unpreparedness on the
part OF mani battleships and other
lighting units were enumerated AZ in
stances OF naval inferiority. Mr..
Meyer said. la part:
"Of the thlrty-threc battlcships we
have only twenty-six that are fitted
for service without long delay. Fur
thermore. we hav about seventy mis-
cellaneous fighting ships not prepared
for service in case OF emergency.
eve lack battle cruisers. airships
and armed aeroplanos.
our submarines are In a crippled
condition.
The complement OF all torpedo
~destroyors has been reduced from IS
to 20 per cent Ia get men to commits
sion new boats. This reduction in
personnel II a serious handicap, re-
duces the efficiency Of tho destroyers.
affects contentment me prevents the
boats being kept In good condition.
THE Atlantic fleet alone needs
5000 more men.
THE reserve fleet at Philadelphia
WIS largely depleted In order to get
a crew for the Alabama when she
was ordered to Hampton Roads 10
enforce neutrality.
"The review In New YORK this year
was q Door imitation 81 previous re-
views In that the reserve fleet was
absent u was a mere parade. not q
mobilization. II did not indicate the
true condition ~ the navy because
the people did not know the whole
truth,
For lack Of men. ships arc laid up
AT navy yards, where they rapidly de-
terioratc like a Nacant house All
small ships and all cruisers now laid
IN for lack Of men are needed In
Mexico and elsewhere, and should be
ready for an emergency call 10 pre-
vent the employment Of hattlcshlps
at gunhont duty. The complement
of enlisted men at shore stations and
training stations has been cut down.
with "a decided loss Of efficiency, and
greatly To- 'hc discomfort and discom-
fort Of the mon
Ito cnumerate tho ships In m,
navy and make "a list Of now ships
authorized gives no idea whatever OF
the true condition ~ the navy as a.
its readiness for Ships without
men are of little use, and 70 navy
without "a policy and with no wei
considered organization nt tho nav,
department will only invite a condi'
ton 81 chaos In event 81 war.
The statement ~ Assistant Score
tary Roosevelt hat we need 1900
mon ~ undoubtedly true. The nav
IL dctcriorating for lack 81 men, The
target practice this last year is M
better than II was ton years ago.
Congress is negligent In not hav'
ING established q national council nj
defense. a general staff and M or
ganizod naval reserve 81 $4,000 ox.