The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-04
INDIGNANT OVER CRITICISMS

pay. mo partisan Quarrel mas ever Hdd
power to drag him from his height.
INDIGNANT OVER CRITICISMS
Aside from these qualifications, he is
loved of the American people as few
men have ever been loved. In a day
when there is much talk of Americanism,
he stands as one who has risked his life
for it, and who has devoted that life to
giving richer, finer meanings to the word.
1 found him in Atlantic City, in a great,
windswept room that looked out over the
sea. His hair has whitened, but other
wise he is but little changed by the years
that have passed since the wonderful day
he returned from Manila to hear the
shouts of a nation. The same clear, stead
fast eyes, the same tremendous simplicity,
the same faith in America!
Speaking slowly, but never hesitatingly,
for three long hours, he considered the
United States navy past, present and fu-
ture; world war, world peace, national
ideals, and national destiny. Only in his
first answers, when an evident indigna-
ton gripped him, did he depart from the
tone Of one trying to pick his words in
the interest of understanding.
THE attacks that have been made upon
the navy" he said, 'are as false as many
of them shameful. 1t is not junk
heap. There is no decentralization. Both
in material and personnel we are more eff
ficient today than ever before. Our ships
are as good as any, our officers are as
good as any, and our enlisted men are the
finest in the world
1T is true that we have not enough
slips or enough men. But navies are not
built in a day. 1t was between 1906 and
1909 that Germany passed us, and that we
commenced to lose rank as a naval power.
This is in no sense criticism of admin
| scfro Of oil
public sentiment in large degree, and the
reason IRE dropped was because the people
-anted the drop. The recommendations
of the general board went unheeded be-
cause they were not backed up by pub
lie opinion. Until 1914 people were think
ing in terms of world peace. 1t is diff
ferent today, and it is today that should
concern U.S."
He walked over to his desk and taking
up copy of the Senate navy bill spread
it out before him, and then he said:
This is the best bill ever passed by
either house of Congress. 1t takes the
five-year programme of the general board
and changes it into a three-year pro-
gramme. If passed, it will restore us to
second place and enable the United States
to meet on equal terms any power in
the world, save one"
ANALYSIS OF NEW NAVY BILL
-Four battleships at once, and six more
within three years" Now that he was
firmly on his own ground, his words
came like bullets. 1.-THE great clash at
the mouth of the Skagerrack gave test
to every theory. AS result naval au-
thorities are now agreed that the battle
ship is still the principal reliance OF
naves. AS never before, it is proved that
victory or defeats rests with the dread
naught.
-Four battle cruisers at once, and two
more within three years. This will rem
edy one of our chief Weaknesses. The
Skagerrack proves conclusively, however
| that the battle cruiser cannot give an6
| take with dreadnaughts.
Scout cruisers, four, and six more tt
come. More eyes for the fleet. Absolute
| ly necessary"
| Like the battle cruiser he said, "tht
| submarine has been permitted to gain
| very exaggerated value. 1t is of course
| a most useful auxiliary, whose importanc.
| will no doubt increase, but at presen
| there is no evidence that it will become
supreme. The bill provides for nine flee
| submarines, three coast submarines, 800
| ton type, and So submarines, smaller type
provisions that are in line with the rec
concentrations of the general board.
"a feature of the Skagerrack engage
ment,'' he continued, was the convincing
l ucI1OHSlTdtlOIl VI the uSeIulIlcSS VI the uo
stroyer. These tiny ships primarily de
signed to serve the purpose of a screen
| to be outriders for the big ships, hav
been regarded as incapable of attackinl
| first class ships in the daytime The Ger
man destroyers descended upon the Brit
ish fleet in broad daylight. and the de
stroyers of both fleets played an import
ant part in the fighting We feel tina
the bills provision for so destroyers i
amply justified. So!'' He turned in TIN
chair and clapped his hands together
| ut is a bill that gives us strength, and
best of ALL a bill that gives us balance.
IN DEFENSE OF DANIELS
| "Bosh" The exclamation was one o
| disgust and Indignation Facts and fig
ures tell their own story. The navy wa
5000 short of the number of enlisted mel
allowed by law; over 5000 have been addet
although more rigid examinations hav'
| forced the rejection of five. out of ever.
six. Only 50 per cent of honorably dis
| charged seamen were re-enlisting. Fo
! more than a year about 80 per cent hav
re-enlsted. Desertions have been cut y