Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-29
First Preparedness" New Seere'
tary.

tary.
"Josephus Daniels-Master Of Err
rors," is the characterization by Hen
ry Reuterdahl, naval artist and maya
zine writer In Metropolitan Magazine
for March he reviews the Vera Cruz
blunder and the desertion OF Ameri-
cans at Tampico, by order Of Secretary
Daniels, when Infatuated Mexican
mobs threatened on every hand. The
article is such an indictment Of the
secretary as, if true, must suggest to
the President the folly Of going before
the country for endorsement with such
milestone about his neck.
But MIR. Reuterdahl's article in one
direction is hardly more severe than
is an editorial in the Scientific Ameri
can Of Feb. g. along another line. This
editorial reads. after a review of con-
ditions and the way they have been
met:
We beg to ask what has been the
attitude of the present Secretary of the
Navy with reference to conditions in
this country? Has he been actuated
by that broad. patriotic and unselfsh
motive which alone could secure ade-
quate results? 1t has been evident
from the beginning of his adrninistra-
ton that the Secretary of the Navy
was under the sinister influence Of the
Bryan regime. which has been in so
many respects detrimental to the coun-
try.
The Secretary's animosity against
private yards and private shipbuilders
has beer manifest from the first. At
time when every effort should be
private shipbuilding yards the Secre-
tary has been manifesting a hostility
toward them and toward the ship
building interests of the country which
is not in harmony with the desire of
the people to see our fleets, naval and
commercial, extended upon the high
seas
The ostensible reason given for this
policy on the part of the Secretary is
to introduce economies and to develop
the resources of the Navy Yards.
There is no reason why our yards
should not be maintained in a state of
high efficiency, but there is every visi-
BILE reason why both our private yards
and the navy yards should be stimuli
taneously encouraged in every possible
way, and it is only by such encourage
ment and support on the part Of the
Government that the desired results
may be obtained
The Secretary's hostility to the
private firms has led to an inexcusable
delay in the construction of two of our
latest battleships, Nos. 43 and A,
which were authorized by Congress 4
year ago. He made it his business to
find fault with the bids of the private
shipyards, and made this the excuse
for having them built in navy yards.
So one ship is to be built at the New
York yard, when the ways have been
vacated by the "CaIifornia," now
building there, and the other ship is to
be built at the Mare Island yard San
Francisco, after a new ways has been
prepared and the proper plant erected
there.
And thus, in spite of the fact that the
nation is crying out for the immediate
increase of our navy. Mr.. Daniels de-
lays the construction of these ships by
"a good year and a half
Furthermore. although the navy
yard is excellent, it is more costly than
private work. The estimates showing
that it costs no more are fictitious: for
the navy yard never includes in the
cost the heavy overhead charges which
form one of the principal items in esti-
mating the cost of privately built war
ships.
President Wilson has spoken elo-
quently in favor Of strong navy. The
question naturally suggests itself
whether the plans of the Administra-
tion can be adequately followed out
without some radical change being
made in the methods and policies
which have been pursued by the Sec
rotary Of the Navy during the present
Administration. No satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION has been given by the Sec
rotary to those who are anxious to see
the United States navy maintain
proper and adequate position, of the
delay Of nearly two years which will
result from his fatuous policy.