The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-16
MEYER CALLS
NAVY UNFIT IN
EVERY BRANCH
Ex-Secrctary, at Security
Luncheon. Says It's Not
Ready for War.
APPEAL TO WILSON
FOR ACTION VOICED

Al. carly attention OF Congress to the
,,.s.inr need OF prompt and efficient
action so that the resources or our
country can be utilized for the proper
defence of the republic" was voiced by
more than 1900 persons who attended
tina luncheon in connection with the
national peace and preparation confer
,nce at the Hotel Aston yesterday. That
appeal was ratified afterward by the 400
delegates from different parts of the
country who at the invitation OF the
National Security League have been at
landing the two day conference.
The united demand for q bigger army
and a bigger navy for def, nsive pur-
noses, the conviction that more soldiers
and sailors must be trained TO utilize
the implements OF war that science has
devised in the last score of years, fol-
loved two days OF speech making. In
that time Ave former Cabinet members
syho have had excellent opportunity to
study from the inside the nations
preparations for defensive warfare had
laid startling facts before the country.
The two ex-Cabinct members who
spoke yesterday for the first time were
George Won l.. Meyer, who was Secre-
tary Of the Navy under President TAFT,
and Gen. Luke f.. Wright. who was
Secretary OF War under President
Roosevelt. Mr.. Meyer gave facts con-
cerning the unhtness OF the navy for
any sort OF war to-day. Mr.. Wright
tmpha sized the weakness OF the army
and called for the increase OF the army
10 double It's present size with a trained
militia OF at least SOC. 600 men.
Meyer Gives StartlinG Facts.
There were other speakers at the
morning session. devoted to the navy.
and at the luncheon. There were adj
dresses filled with eloquence and facts
concerning the fate of nations that were
lulled to sleep and unpreparedness by
the belief that there never would be
another war. The most emphatic note
Of the day. however, was struck by Mr..
Meyer in his speech on the unftness OF
the navy.
Speaking AT the luncheon Mr.. Meyer
eaid at the start that the history, of
the national defence of the United states
has been one continued history OF un-
preparedness" lie reviewed the naval
history from the Revolution down to the
present time, showing how fortunate
circumstances had helped this country
81 critical moments and pointing out
~ Gus "'b = NlbABP'N
navy would have prevented trouble
The speaker then called attention to
the effectiveness of the English navy in
the present war in bottling up the Ger
man navy and paralyzing Germany's
commerce. lie said
w need consider an attack only
from some great ava Power. For tina
reason "" need an adequ3'e navy. for ii
tends toward peace. So 1 am going to
E.k4 lnFnrnnAs1An and Ia lnlHtv ~ a-,
giving only what is already known to
the naval authorities of all the countries
ot the world.
"Of the thirty-ive ba~ttleships that We
have to-day only twenty-one are in COM
mission and ready for emergency. OF
those twenty-one three have broken
taafts and the fourth is a turbine bat
teship which was put out OF commits
son because IL needs to be thoroughly
overhauled. In addition to that there
se seventy fighting vessels which are
not ready TO be called upon for an
emergency because they are out of COM
mission and would require a long over
hauling.
We lack battle cruisers. scout
cruisers. aeroplanes and armed airships.
Our submarine fleet is in n critical rom
otion. The complement of torpedo yes
ees has been reduced from 10 TO % per
ah''' ~ NV W
boats This reduction in personnel is "A
serious handicap, reduces the efficiency
OF the destroyers, affects contentment
snd prevents the boats being kept I'm
eood condition. The Atlantic fleet needs
1000 men, according 10 the evidence of
Ene commander In chief of that fleet.
1he reserve feet OF Philadelphia
vas largely depleted in order to get a
Few crew for the Alabama when she
vas ordered to Hampton Roads to en-
force neutrality and the naval force
o. Hampton Roads was a pitifully weak
ene' one small submarine. one little
torpedo destroyer diverted from Annapo-
Us and one reserve battleship of which
ne neet In Philadelphia had been
Son,
The review in New York this year
vas a poor imitation of previous re-
views in that the reserve fleet was alb
sent II was a mere paraie-not a
g'ooillzatlon. II did not indicate the
.Ve condition of the fleet, because the
keopie ala not know the whole truth.
." lack Of men ships are laid up in
.aw yards, whore they rapidly de-
"norate Ike a vacant house.
Al! small ships and all cruisers now
ku up Tor lack Of men are needle in
Clealco and elsewhere and should he
t'ady for an emergency call. The com
pement Of enlisted men at shore sta
Ions and training stations has been
Spt Gown with "A decided loss OF eff
'ency and greatly to the discomfort
sIn discomfort OF the men. \ navy
YIN an insufficient and ~disgruntlcd per-
s.nnei cannot be efficient and its morale
uN necessarily be disastrously az
ICED To enumerate the ships in the
IVY ana 10 give n list Of those tina
re 10 be authorized gives No idpo nj
80 true condition OF the navy to he In
..a''ness for war, Ships without mer
OF little use and a navy with
", a policy and with no we'll CON
snr'ed organization at the Navy De.
V'rtment will only invite a condition oi
s"dos IN the event OF war. tApplause. ]
calls Congress Negligent.
The Assistant Secretary OF the Navy
~ Roosevelt, has yer,
Nu'htu'Iy that the navy needs 1900
a." IN order To put the vessels that ar
'r war service into commission
.oneress Is negligent in not having es
."o'she1 a national council Of defence
',tth'taI STAFF and n national reserv'
nu'''o ''l"!"nt men, Applause II
."'.s attention to these defects 7 hav'
~ hon" so for the desire OF criticisInI
1t. present head Of the navy, although
10 believe that he Is responsible 70
We demorallzed condition OF the per
inner and the decreased efficiency O
ne navy. 1t - not only that It II
~ 'a'N of any definite naval policy, o
- peon!e and Congress TO ~recogniz,
Nv necessity for such a policy, that Ia
laen us in p position Of inferiority