New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24
Putting Up the Bars Against Mill
tarv Efficiency.

The Military Affairs Committee Of the House
Of Representatives is much more stand-pat IN It's
tendencies than is the Naval Affairs Committee.
The latter body has shown lively appreciation
Of the necessities of national defence. Il altered
its policy materially when the Deficiencies OF me
navy were exposed by the testimony of experts
Of the highest standing Secretary Danelss Ald
for Operations. Rear Admiral Bradley A. fiske'
said on the witness stand that II would take three
wears 10 bring the personnel Of the navy up to
the desired standard and five years TO get the
feet into condition 10 meet an efficient enemy
Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletcher, in command OF
the Atlantic feet testified to the serious shortage
of men and recently supplemented his carrier
statement by showing that the twenty-one
vessels Of the Atlantic feet alone there Is new
deficiency Of 5,219 men and 339 officers.
The Naval Committee listened to expert advice
and even sided TO a surprising extent with the
experts and against the Secretary Of the Navy
Il authorized more vessels than Mr.. Daniels had
asked for. and without any suggestion from nm
created permanent Bureau Of Operations, when
is 10 accept full responsibility for the military
administration of the navy. Thus the great de-
feet Of the present systematic lack of intelligent
centralized control-was courageously attacked
and a start was made toward putting the navy on
a new basis of preparedness and efficiency.
With this liberal attitude it is painful to con-
trast the reactionary attitude Of the House Mill
tarv Affairs Committee, controlled by Its chair
man. Mr.. Hay The latter acquired fame few
wears ago by his efforts TO chloroform the General
staff of the Army He had fallen under the
influence of Major General Answorth, then AdJu-
tant General of the Army, and worked with him
10 put through Congress army reorganization
bill which would have come near restoring the
conditions of lax, dispersed control which pre-
vailed before the lessons of the Spanish war
were taken 10 heart. He did get through meas
ure which increased the term of enlistment for
soldiers and thus greatly restricted the usefulness
of the army as a training school. The country
is still suffering from the effects Of that bunder
and from the ludcrous workings of the reserve
section through which reserve has been turned
out so far of exactly sixteen men,
Instead Of supporting the sensible reforms
urged by Secretary Garrison, Mr.. Hay is stoutly
opposing them. lie told the House on Friday,
according to Washington dispatches, that Mr..
Garrison's measures for the increase Of the army
are wholly unnecessary at this time That state
ment puts on the War Department and its friends
in the Senate the burden Of overcoming Mr..
HAYS opposition. Until he is beaten IN his COM
mittee and on the floor of the House there can be
little hope Of getting the military forces of the
country into condition in which they could repel
an invasion undertaken by any frst-cass military
power.
Fortunately. the Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee is giving its unanimous support to Mr..
Carrison's measures The issue will therefore be
raised with Mr.. Hay and the House stand-pat-
tiers before this season ends II will be raised in
vain, however, if public opinion does not make
itself felt TO better effect in the lower branch
Of Congress than 1t has so far. There too
many men in that body who still want to keep the
army weak. amateurish and inefficient, and to shut
it of from contact with the main currents OF
national life. IL we to have an adequate,
modern army, the Hay obstructonists must be
put 10 rOut.