The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-10-18
MEN NEEDED FOR
AMERICAN NAVY
Congress to Be Asked For
$4,000 More Sailors.
SEEK 1000 NEW OFFICERS

Naval Experts Say Force Is Now Only
Half Large Enough-Assistsnt Sec
Rotary Roosevelt Busy on Plans to
Bring United States Navy UP to
Standard Of Any In The World.
Congress will be asked To increase
the enlisted personnel OF the navy 80
per cent and to provide for i.o00 more
officers, according TO the present plans
of the navy department. officers say
such an increase is "A necessity Ii even
the present ships are to be kept ready
for action.
The enlistment is now up to the
maximum permitted by law-slightly
over 52.000-and il liz said that there
will be no difficulty in getting the ex-
ira men, even at the present rate OF
pay. If congress passes the necessary
legislation. The navy is accommodating
ships much faster than men, and 1t
is declared at the navy department
that conditions will become critical
when the big vessels under construc-
ton are In commission.
There are not enough men In the
navy at this time TO place all the ships
on parade, let alone send them into
battle said a naval officer. Every
time we commission n new ship we
have to relegate one or TIVE older ones
TO virtual retirement. Almost all eur
officers are performing the duties or
the rank above them. We ought 10
have 1000 new officers at nee and
then promote a corresponding number
of the old ones 10 ranks commensurate
with the duties they are performing.
1t is estimated hat I'm the event OF
war the navy would have TO retire a
large number of older ships In order
to get enough men and officers TO man
the battle fleet. The department looks
on this situation as grave, n some
Of the older officers say congress will
be only making a beginning If IL raises
the authorized number OF enlisted men
to $4,000 and adds 1000 officers.
Would Not Provide Reserves.
This increase, IL Is said, would just
put the present ships on a war footing.
IL would not provide reserves to take
care OF normal casualties nor men to
handle the large feet OF auxiliary
cruisers. Golfers. transports and tend
ers that would be necessary In war.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt recent
ly estimated that $4,000 more men and
1000 officers would be required to
bring the present ships Of the navy up
TO a state of actual war preparation.
The estimate OF Rear Admiral Blue.
chief of the bureau of navigation, Is
understood TO have been considerably
higher.
Mr.. Roosevelt is working out a plan
for a naval reserve OF 10000 men. re-
cruited from the former enlisted men
Of the navy. who number about 10000,
and from private citizens who have
had experience In the various branches
OF the service.
He believes that. while these men
cannot be trained TO the standard OF
efficiency In the regular service In this
way. II will nevertheless be possible
to mobilize a great many volunteers
Ut a0AhAdAt StiNiCGs hNuhAV VRtiaAOAS
helmsmen. mechanics and engineers
can be taken from private life and
made almost Immediately useful to the
navy in time of war.
Ii congress grants the Increase II
, personnel which Secretary Daniels VIII
recommend and which 1t is presumed
the president VIII approve II will not
be expected to stop there. Naval ex
perts are greatly interested In form
! ing an adequate reserve OF both ships
and men. Such a plan would neces
! sarily be linked with the movement tC
foster n merchant marine and would
provide for commissioning officers OF
the merchant feet and placing the
crews and vessels on the reserve list
as is done In Europe.