West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-04-20
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Tells of the Alarming Conditions
That Prevailed Under Former
Administration - Naval Forces
Have Been Greatly Strengthened

Franklin ID. Roosevelt. assistant sec
retary OF the navy. in an address be-
fore the Navy League of the United
States at Washington, frankly &C
knowledged that in some respects the
American navy is not an efficient fight
ing machine. He gave startling facts
regarding its true condition and de-
clared many valuable improvements
had been made during the present ad-
ministration. a
He said the present weakness is
most largely due to deficiencies of
the past" When he entered the navy
department three years ago. Mr..
Roosevelt added, "the accumulated
shortness in material and men had
become an alarming danger.
tie thought "the time for knocking
had gone by and that the time for
boosting had come" He said the war
in Europe has brought home facts
(which We have been unwilling to
learn until now"
Referring 10 some of the Weaknesses
which existed I'm the navy I'm the past.
Mr.. Roosevelt declared that in 1912.
when President Taft reviewed the So
called great mobilization" in New
York harbor. "a surprisingly large
number of the ships there present
were in bad physical condition; some
had actually to be towed to their an
chorage. others were kept ahoat ~
working the pumps day and night. \
great number of them" he continued
were short OF officers and men, and
II was only by the use of the naval
militia and by the authorization, under
doubtful legality. of short term enlist
ments that the quota was as large as
e was"
Mr. Roosevelt stated further that at
the time the feet went around the
world 1t was necessary ito strip many
other vessels of their officers and men.
to borrow here. there and the other
place from shore stations and other
shore assignments, with the result
that while the main fleet was i'm full
commission the naval establishment
as a whole was seriously weakened.
What l want especially to empha-
se." he went on. "is that every naval
officer has during the past known
what war would mean The need for
preparedness has existed i'm the past
just as il does today At last / believe
the people of the country are going 10
accept the judgment of the men who
kaov, OF the men who are paid by the
people to know.'
As To the personnel, MIR. Roosevelt
seid tliat during the next ten years
at least the problem of the lack Of Off
GERS viii be a serious one" for officers
cannot be made merely by act Of Con-
gress. AS TO the enlisted men, he con-
tinued, although only one man out Of
six who applies is being accepted, for
the first time almost in our history the
legal limit has been maintained day
and night during the past two years.
In addition to this, the so-called 'un-
popularity Of the navy is disproved
by the fact that S5 per cent of the men
whose terms Of enlistment expire are
at the present time re-enlisting in the
service"
The vital Importance OF an adequate
number of modern high-power aero
planes and hydroplanes as measure
Of preparedness was pointed out 20
the convention by Dr. Alexander era
ham Bell. the inventor
"If the United States were plunged
suddenly into war enemy aeroplanes
could hover over the capitol and de-
stroy IL. no matter how strong the
navy might be in ships" he declared.
"This is the great problem and op-
portunity of the government today.
The time Is already here when both
sea and land power are secondary to
cir poWer The United states f. the
birthplace of aviation II has a good
chance 90 control the air. provided
no time is lost in going about the
task and ample funds are provided"
He advocated aeroplancs rather
than dirieibles. on accoun, of their
great speed and other qualities.
-s----
Less Home washing