Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-08
NEED FOR GREATER navy
URGED BY NAVY LEAGUE
Board of Directors Issues Statement
Summarizing Work of Last
Congress.

The board Of directors of the Navy
League, including Perry Belmont. John
Callan O'Laughlin and Charles A Fowler.
today issued a statement in which stress
is laid on the immediate and urgent need
for an efficient navy and the awakened
appreciation of this need by the American
people. The statement, it is explained, is
an expression of opinion formulated at a
meeting of the board last Friday, at which
the naval appropriation bill passed by the
last Congress was discussed. The state
ment follows:
THAT the American people have awak-
ened to the vital need Of an adequate
and efficient navy is demonstrated by the
action Of Congress in connection with the
naval appropriation bill approved by the
President before adjournment. Through
out the country there is growing realiza-
ton of the importance Of the navy as an
arm of American diplomacy for the
preservation of our neutrality and our
maintenance in a state Of peace with
honor. The natural result has followed.
Congress has assured the feet a better
organization for war purposes, a reserve
upon which to draw in case of need, an
increase, not enough, to be sure. but at
least appreciable. and a higher rank for
the commanders-in-chief Of our several
units which would be important in case
tof combined operations. or at points
where it should become necessary to as
sert the dignity Of the American people
Training Is First Requisite.
TT is automatic that without eff
cheney the ships are worthless In
other words. it is the man behind the
hn rho
behind the gun who above all should
receive attention. Training, training
and then more training is the first
requisite. no matter how small or how
large the material. Until the present
time the navy has been forced to go
along in haphazard manner in its
preparations for war, in the co-ordina-
ton of the different units. and in the
development of system which would
assure the highest degree of efficiency.
1t has general board, which has done
magnificent work. but the members of
that board realize themselves that
without legal status their authority
and advice are limited.
The naval appropriation law just
enacted provides the beginning of a
tons is created, and around him it is
hoped there will be developed eventu-
ally with the authority of law an Or
ganization which will have control of
d
fication of the navy for the defense of
the nation.
"The creation of reserve of enlisted
rnen is a wise provision, since 1T as
sures the continued onnecton with
the navy of trained men and their in
corpora ton into ser rice in time of war.
1t is believed that at least 5000 men
will accept the benefits Of this provi-
sion. Should war break out against
the wishes OF the American people
these men will be available for our
men-of-Mar. Their value under such
| circumstances cannot be o1erestira ted
Hope for Greater Armament.
The increase of the navy by two
| dreadnaughts, six destroyers, tive
fleet sea-going submarines, sixteen
| coast defense submarines and aircraft
for which s1,000.00O is authorized. is
| inadequate. That Congress realized
this fact is shown by the direction
| given the Secretary of the Navy to re-
| port at the next session on the char
acteristics of four additional warshp.
| and on the value of aircraft and sub
| marines. 1t must not be forgotten
| that all the great powers are involved
| in war that all of them are pushing
| construction at top speed and that oui
naval position is bound to drop under
the circumstances. We have neutra
| rights, long coast lines. the Panama
canal and outlying dependencies to de
| fend. The navy should be provided
with a sufficient force to permit u prop
| er defense. The past Congress has
| taken a step in this direction, but it is
to be hoped that during the next SEES
| sion greater heed will be given to the
| country's needs.
Congress has abolished the pluck
| ing board, and promises to reorganiZe
| the personnel at the next session. II
| is most essential that it should perform
this promise. In providing that com
| manders-in-c chief and their Immediate
| assistants should have the rank OF
| admiral and vice admiral Congress has
| removed an evil that seriously affected
| our status abroad. Because of Their
! low rank our commandersin-ch chief in
! the past have often been embarra ssed
| in connection with the settlement OF
| international questions which called
| for combined action. In the future
| they and the country will not suffer
| from this unfortunate condition.