River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-07-29
CRITICS OF NAVY
CALLED UNFAIR
Expert Points to Advance Made
In Recent Years.
PRAISES SECRETARY DANIELS


In Last Three Years-Other Units
Increased In Proportion-Enlistmen
Up TO Limit.
BY (. x. RODEN, Director of the Navy
League.
So much unfair criticism Of the navy
department in general, and Of the
secretary Of the navy in particular, has
appeared in the press lately as to al
most prejudice public opinion in re-
gard to the efficiency and homogeneity
OF our naval defense. One writer and
public speaker after the other is taking
their turn In assailing Secretary Daniels
and his administration of the navy. II
these attacks were made in good faith
they would be pardonable, but as
matter OF fact the attacks are for po-
!iticaI effect rather than from any real
understanding Of naval conditions.
Representative Gardner of Massa-
chusetts, who seems to have assumed
the leading role in the attacks made
on what is termed naval inef1ciency,"
is about as capable a judge of naval
affairs as is the man in the street. Yet
If statements made by Mr.. Gardner
concerning the navy were true, the
million dollars Of the taxpayers money
spent during the last fifteen years on
the upbuiIding and maintenance of our
navy would be so much money thrown
to the winds.
Fortunately such is not the case.
Any person OF ordinary Intelligence
who will take the trouble in looking
over the statistics of the navy will find
that the expenditures made on our
naval defense have been money wisely
spent indeed. From a small beginning
with the white squadron upon lines
similar with other maritime nations,
the United States has advanced so
rapidly IN naval construction as to
have overtaken and passed all but the
two leading naval powers of the world,
and today our navy, which for many
years was considered by European and
even by South American nations as
altogether unworthy of consideration,
is recognized as a factor of tremendous
significance in the international affairs
OF the world.
1t is only fair that credit be given
where credit is due. The navy should
not be made the object of partisan jug
glery at any time and least Of all at
the present time.
Five First Glass Battleships.
Perhaps the most noteworthy accom-
plishment of recent years is the au-
thorized construction Of five first class
battleShipS, to cost about $14,OO0,OO0
each The addition of other units to
the navy has been in the same proper
ton. At the present time there are I'M
der construction twenty-three destroy
ers, tirty-eight submarines, three gun
boats and seven auXiliarieS. The pro-
duction Of supplies of munitions for
the increased size of the navy has kept
pace with requirements Thus the in
crease in number of mines on hand and
iii process Of manufacture is pa per
cent and in torpedOeS 30 per cent The
powder factory at Indian Head has
been enlarged, so that when the eX-
tension now under way is completed
its capacity will be nearly doubled.
The critics of the navy lament the
utter unpreparedness Of our fighting
units and its lack of battle efficiency,
due, they claim, to lack of practice.
But they do not know that during the
last fifteen months more battleShipS
and destroyerS have participated in
tactical maneuvers for longer period
Of time than ever before in the history
of the service. The critics may not be
aware of the fact that under the direc
ton of Admiral Fletcher, upon plans
evolved at the naval war college and
approved by the department, the fleet
has been busted In tactics to try out
its efficiency and readiness. All re-
ports tell of the enthusiasm of Off
GERS and men in this practice and the
splendid record made by the ships.
Enlistment Up to Limit.
Again, So far as the enlisted person
mel of the navy is concerned, for the
first time in years is the enlistment up
to the limit prescribed by law, and this
has been accomplished, not by lower
ing the standard of admission to the
service but by making the service
more attractive to the young men Of
the country.
1t will not be amiss to state that to
Secretary Daniels belongs the credit
and honor of having carried into effect
evolutions that have placed the naval
service upon a footing it never had be-
fore. refer to the new system of pro-
motion, by which capable enlisted men
are given chances to advance in the
service. This system, Notwithstanding
the opposition it has met with in some
quarters, is bound to work about a
transformation in the personnel of the
navy. It will substitute for the care
less, rollicking seaman of former days
an entirely new type of man-Ofwars-
man-active, alert, intelligent and edu-
Gated, respecting himself and respected
~ Ed