Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-26
NAVY is POORLY
PREPARED FOR
ACTUAL WARFARE
Rear Admiral knight Advo-
Gates Creation of Council of
National Defense for Co-or-
dination Of Resources,

Nv AcNNtN1 JOURNAL HFtNlAN AtANtn VISIT
New York, Jan st.--NaNat efficien.
ey during peace and war was dis.
cussed at the annual banquet " the
Efficiency society here tonlght
speeches were made by Rear Admiral
Austin A. Knight president OF the
naval war college at Newport, r. L.
Rear Admiral W. +. Fullam. superln-
tendent af the United States Naval
academy az Annapolis, ana n. II. NJ.
Robinson. managing director at a
torpedo manufactures company in
bridgeport. Conn.
Admiral Knight urged the creation
OF council ol national defense and
the establishment of division of
strategy and operations In the navy
department. lie said
There can be no question that the
existing organization OF the navy de-
partment Is Inadequate ana would
break down under the strain Of war"
the rear admiral said. THE navy has
one excuse for existing and only one.
that II should always be ready 20
strike on The minute and with every
element Of power behind It's blow, for
the defense OF the country.
War j. Not Considered.
III Is a singular fact that the or.
ganigaiion OF The navy department
takes no account OF this relation OF
the navy to war. War Is one thing
for which no arrangement is made,
There are seven bureaus In the de-
partment, each with clearly defined
duties hut IN an the elaborate legls-
lation creating these bureaus aud de-
fining their duties there Is not
al Iatft 81 La At.
navy IN readiness for war or prepar-
ms plans for war. ar conducting war
after II begins There would be
certain element of comedy in this II
there were moi SO many clements Of
possible tragedy
Division of strategy Needed
''rhis Is the last and great defect IN
the efficiency OF the navy II could
be remedled by the erection OF dlvl-
sion OF strategy and operations pref
erably not co-equnl with the present
bureaus but superior tO them and
standing between them and the score
aary II would correspond more or
less closely with the general staff of
the army and the frat sea lords of
the British admiralty
II am not advocating a reorganl-
zation that would In any way reduce
the authority OF the secretary
"rhc creation Of this office would
create a policy for the navy lnsur-
ing unity Of effort and shaping plans
toward the proper end OF all our eff
forts preparedness for war.
Must Have National Policy,
1--WE need a policy broader than our
naval policy and including It. This
must be national policy, dealing
with both The army and the navy and
bringing the broadast siatesmnnahip
as well as the highest knowledge 60
bear upon the question of national de-
fense lts enumeration must come
from the highest authority in the
land, executive and legislative,
This points to a council Of national
defense for the creation of which q
bill is already before congress. In
such n council, with the president Of
she United states ut its hendi We
should have the last word 10 the co
ordination Of national resources for
national defense,
should Bc More Efficient.
There Il much about the navy that
is splendidly efficient, but as a whole
It Is far less efficient than It ought to
be. We are lacking Ia that harmon
ious composition Of the fleet which II
needed 20 give every element Of u the
support Il needs from other elements.
We are lacking In absolute and ea-
sential facilities for the care and
preservation of our ships IN an eff
cient organization OF tic personnel.
Il ask you 10 picture the effect OF
a condition where a young officer
graduating from the naval academy, |
full OF spirit and enthusiasm finds
confronted with the prospect !
Of promotion to the grade Of leiten-
ant at the age of " years
ECONOMY First Poor Policy
The policy Of economy first Rear
Admiral Knight said had been ap
piled 10 naval expenditures, The pro-
gram advocated by the general board |
If II had been followed, he said |
would have provided forty-seven bat |
tleships built and building IN 1914 |
but Il hal not been followed and the
country has thirty -eeyen hatteahlps. !
lie laid emphasis upon The necessity
for apxiliaries such az fuel ships and
scouts.
"a fleet without fuel ships IL Grip |
pied and one without scouts Is blind !
he declared ITO send q fleet thual
blind and crippled into hostile waters /
would be 10 invite destruction
Admiral L. Sarcastic