Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-17
DEWEYLAUDS NAVY,
URGES GREATER ONE
Hero Of Manila Bay Says Nation
Needs More Ships, Officers
and Men.
DANIELS REPLIES TO CRITICS

NEW YORK, May 16.-The most
elaborate celebration since the At
lantic fleet arrived in New York
harbor last Saturday 20 be reviewed
next Monday by President Wilson,
was given tonight when the mayors
committee rendered dinner to the
officers Of the fleet. Secretary Of
the Navy Daniels was the chief
speaker Acting Mayor McAneny
was host and POSTMASTER.
More than 600 persons were pres
emit at the dinner, including 400 Of
ficers Of the fleet. Among these
we're Admiral Fletcher, commanding
the fleet, and Rear Admirals d. w.
Coffman, ii. T. Mayo. r. N. Usher,
G. ]. Boush and Walter Mclean.
Major General Leonard Wood, U. S.
A., commanding the Department Of
the East. and Major General George
Barnett, U. s. NJ. c., were also
among the guests.
Letter from Dewey.
The speakers besides the secretary OF
the navy were Admiral Fletcher and
Major General Wood. Before beginning
his speech Secretary Daniels read the
following letter from Admiral Dewey:
"The people OF New York have just
cause for pride IN the fleet now assem-
bled In their harbor." wrote Admiral
T.k L.. -
finest and most efficient warships that
we have ever had, but Il is not excelled
except IN size. by the fleet Of any nation
In the world. our officers are as good
as any; and our enlisted men are SUI
perior in training. education. physical
development and devotion TO duty. to
those OF any other navy. As president
OF the general board for the last fifteen
years. can say with absolute confidence
that the efficiency Of the fleet has stead
lily progressed and has never been 30
high as II u today.
However. we need more ships, more
officers and more mon. and should con-
tinue the wise policy Of increasing the
aize Of our navy. which must remain our
first and best line OF defense. This de-
tense. unlesg adequate. Is impotent; and
adequacy IL not reached until The navy is
strong enough 10 meet on equal terms
the navy OF any possible adversary"
Recalls Ola welcome.
Admiral Dewey thanked tho city Off
ciais Of New York for their hospitality
20 the officers and men of the fleet, and
expressed his regret at not being abls
TO be present at the dinner. He recalled
the welcome the city gave him when he
returned from Manila on the Olympia in
1893 and added that re Is g source of
deep satisfaction TO know that the IN
tercst Of our citizens in their great navy
has not diminished IN the sixteen years
that have ELAPSED since that time"
Admiral Fletcher Haid the officers had
been impressed BY the interest that had
been taken in the navy by the people OF
New York. He added that battIeahips
alone were inadequate and become a
prey 10 torpedo boats, submarines and
mines and that II IL necessary TO have
different types OF vessels 20 compete with
them and protect the battleships. He
Rlso emphasized the need OF large scout
lng cruisers. destroyers and submarines.
Major General Wood said Il was very
important TO the government that the
navy should grow, ana that It must grow
TO be adequate.
Must he More FederaIised.
In speaking OF the militia, General
Wood said that to be an effective cup
port and part Of the first line defense
II has Got TO become very much more
federalized." Otherwise. he said, the
nation would have 90 wage war in the
future as It has In the past. las a con-
federacy"