New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-07
The Josephan Tragedy.


Presidents "triumphal" Western tour has
been a grisly tragedy.
So far as the country's naval policy Is
concerned the President has completely de-
Josephusizod himself. If we ought to have
"incomparahlv the greatest navy in the
world" as Mr.. Wilson told the people of
ST. Loui--if we arc to have a navy to
fight with. not to toy with as mere in
strumentality of popular education
where any longer does Josephus come in?
What is left Of his usefulness TO the Navy
Department either as a theorist or as an
administrator?
In view of the Presidents "incompara-
hly the greatest navy" declaration, we are
inclined TO think that even Uncle Ben Till
man will now admit that Mr.. Daniels has
ceased TO be. for the purposes of this Ad-
ministration. "the greatest Secretary the
navy ever had
Once he wore that proud title without
cballenge-even in Cabinet meetings. Mr.
Wilson was for him without reservation
chen he started in TO make the navy an
fdilrct 10 the common school system
"the biggest university in America" as he
called it. lie had the Presidents sympa-
thy when. in December, 1914-after the
rerilous effects of the Great War on our
fortunes and policies had already become
apparent-he -pencilled the recommen-
dations Of the General Board Of the Navy
or new construction and bleated for dis
armament in this Bryanesque fashion:
There arc reasons 70 hope that the horrors
and cost Of this war will hasten the coming
Of the day for a conference Of the powers
Il consider the safe steps 10 be taken to
reduce armament and dreadnoughts and sub
marines Il may not be opportune at TINS
time for our Republic TO move for such
conference. but when peace smiles upon this
war-torn globe there may be reserved Tor
America the coveted honor Of initiating a
movement which will make possible a reduc-
ton OF fighting craft without imperilling the
rights Of any peoples. Is ~ too much 70 be
lieve this generation will witness such an
agreement. and men now living will see the
good hour prophesied By Tennyson when
ne war OIlLN NlltuutH ITO i'AbNi' "'-N ~''N
battle flags were furled
In the Parliament Of man. the Federation Of
the world?
Mr.. Wilson stood behind Mr.. Daniels
when he insisted a year ago on smaller
increase for the navy than Congress was
ready to grant-and very much smaller
increase than the General Board had held
10 be indispensable. Even after he had
strangled the proposal in Congress to ere
ate something like a General Staff for the
navy-absolutely necessary to insure its
control and development along military
hnes-the President came over to the
naval review in this harbor and effusively
praised Mr.. Daniels, in the presence of
naval officers who knew from bitter eX-
perience Just how inimical the Secretary S
acts and policies had been to the good of
the service.
This winter the Secretary, although en-
largng his building programme somewhat
under the pressure Of public opinion. has
been going along in the old way, combat
ing real naval progress so far as he felt
it safe to combat IT, lie refused TO accept
or TO make public the 1915 building pro-
gramme of the General Board Instead, he
sent the original report back and in
structed the board 10 make new report,
with a limitation on cost set by himself.
Then he published together his own plan
and the General Boards variations on that
plan, letting the country draw the infer
ence that he and the board had come to a
very remarkable agreement as to the
navy's requirements.
Presently il leaked out that the board
did not agree with him at all. His aim
was 20 maintain the United States Navy,
as at present, i'm fourth place, behind
Great Britain. Germany and France. but
ahead Of Japan. The boards aim was 70
create a navy second TO that Of no other
power Yet the strongest "Big Navy"
man on the board had never thought of
suggesting that the American navy should
at once be made "incomparaby the great
est in the world
Of all the stabs at Danielssm this was
the cruellest. The Secretary had done his
best TO suppress sedition and criticism
TO silence all carping within the Admins
tration household. He had muzzled every
officer under him lie had insisted on
either praise or silence. Those who had
the courage TO speak their minds had been
put on the blacklist. TO Rear Admiral
Fiske Mr.. Daniels is reported to have
said: "You may not discuss naval affairs
publicly; you may not even say that two
and two make four
Yet the commander i'll chief Of the
navy has now made the Daniels policy of
suppression ridiculous lie has condemned
the Secretary's programme as uniformed
and cropping. Its aim is mistaken; it does
not rise to a true realization of the coun-