Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-09-06
WHAT OUR NAVY NEEDS
FIRST EFFICIENCY
Advisory Board to Aid Scientific
and Inventive Activities.
PERSONNEL AND MATERIAL.
Daniels in An Interview Says He Has
the Whole Navy Within His Vision.
TFropn the Washington SUNDAY Star.l
Part III.


Other authorities make all these num-
bers rather lower, but the difference
arises because they have disregarded
the smaller and nearly obsolete boats,
which Domyille-Fire has included. In
the American Navy there are 81 subma-
rines in service. They range from the
Plunger and Fulton of the 4 class to
the latest boats, but their speed and
design are not made public.
There are twenty in various stages of
construction Among them is the Schley
designed to make a surface speed of
20 knots. Congress has made appro-
priations for eighteen More, two of
which are to be of seagonig type and
are expected to make % knots. Aside
from the many other purposes the sub
marine. in this country, has always
been regarded as possessing great
value for coast defense.
Annoyance and damage would attend
an attack of warships upon our coast,
but no invasion could follow until
transports We're sent to convoy the nee
essary troops. Whether this coHld be
done successfully is a question which
cannot be determined except by expe-
riment. There are demonstrations
pointing either way. The British fleet
cannot lie very close to the German
coast, because the submarines of the
latter are too dangerous. The German
submarines cannot prevent the trans
portation of men and arms from
England to France, because the aero
planes, destroyers and scout cruisers
guard the way too effectively.
In July, 1914, England had SO, Ger
many 20, France 12 dreadnaughts,
built and building The same nations
respectively had 1920 and Is predread-
naughts. At the present time the Uni
ted States has 16 dreadnaughts and %
predreadnaughts.
The efficiency of fighting ship,when
it goes into commission depends upon
the constructor, and thereafter upon
the way it is handled and maintained.
This involves the departmental super
vision and the ships company.
The last Congress passed a naval re-
serve bill to attract the men to re-enlist
and to establish an organized body of
highly trained men, ready to respond
when called upon in time of need to
man the reserve ships of the navy. 1t
is too early to determine how effect
lively this will operate, but for the
months of March, April and May, the
re-enlistments were respectively 81, 70
and SO per cent. as against SO per cent.
before the bill went into effect.
FfYl.o l.. % rsr.I Ia
are not available, but the navy is lend
ing all the aid in its power to develop
this branch, because il brings into con-
tact with the service men of a first
rate type, who need only seasoning to
be of great value as an addition to
the reserve.
No mention is here made of colliers,
hospital ships, repair ships, scout cruis-
ers, or other repair ships for subma-
rines. No thought has been directed
to the use of the navy for any purpose
other than as the first line of defense
against invasion.
There is no doubt that the great
conflict were confiende to Germany
and England. and the fleet of the latter
could be bottled up, that the German
army would successfully invade Eng
land, but the English navy could not
be defeated, so the island would be
safe. Except that int takes days, in
stead of hours, TO cross the sea, the
same principle applies to q foreign in
vasion of this country.
Ships cannot be built liz few weeks
or months. Years are required for a
submarine or a destroyer, and several
for a battleship, at least in time OF
peace. Men cannot be trained in a
short time. Six months are required |
prepare a recruit, and the crew of a
battleship cannot be improvised.
1t is not claimed that the figures
given above are exact, since no navy in
the world will allow it's latest figures
to be made public, but they are as
nearly accurate as they can be made
and are sufficiently accurate for pur-
poses of comparison.
No attempt has been made to draw
deductions or inferences; anyone who
thinks will do it for himself.
(Conclusion.)