Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-22


rotary Of war. All breaths were held
to listen to President Wilson's deter
mination. The Senate and the House
were called together in joint session on
December Sth, 1914. Secretary Garrison
at once admitted the truth OF all that
had been said about the War Depart.
ment. Secretary Daniels reported the
navy in superb state Of effectiveness,
adequately manned and thoroughly
prepared. The President announced to
Congress that the country had been
misinformed, that our defence had not
been neglected, that there was no new
need to discuss the questions Of the ma
TONS armament, and that those who
felt otherwise were Nervous and Ex-
cited. I ask you in all fairness:-in
the face Of those assurances from
President Wilson and Secretary Dan
iels, men to whom the people had in
trusted the duty Of informing US or
the state of the nation, can you blame
Congress for the passage Of the pitiful
army and navy legislation OF 1915?
Oh, know very well that President
Wilson boasts that he is the servant OF
the people and that he waits until he
knows the peoples will 1t was his
business to be the leader of the people,
not their follower. He has lost two
precious years and If disaster, which
heaven forbid, should befall the Amer
lean arms in 1917 or 1918, woodrow
Wilson is responsible because In the
matter Of preparedness he kept his ear
to the ground instead of boldly taking
the lead. No heading Of preparedness
parades on Pennsylvania Avenue, no
munching Of his own utterances, no
dazzling speaking tours will make the
people forget that Woodrow Wilson has
been but a slow follower in the wake
Of this great movement.
The New Navy Law.
The Democratic press heralds the
new navy law as Wilson's victory over
| Congress- It is true that the President
had difficulties with many men on his
own side Of the House, but the difficult
| ties were of his own making. Only a
year before he had lined up these self
same men to fight tooth and nail the
program Of those of us who sought to
make the country prepare. Even Con-
gressmen, feeble as our self-respect is
said to be- cannot gracefully stomach a
presidential order to "about face. be
that as 1t may, the new navy law IS
good. The building program l regret
to say, is not as large as that recon-
mended by the General Board of the
Navy on July 80, 1915. However, in
view of the fact that Secretary Daniels
has not even begun the construction OF
a good many of the vessels voted by
Congress over seventeen months ago,
it is possible that We are undertaking
as much as the building Of the country
can conveniently handle.
Amazing Delays.
Speaking Of the slow construction
Of our ships, the country does not
realize the awful slackness Of the
Navy Department in the construction
of the ships authorized by Congress.
In that respect Secretary Daniels is
but little worse than his predecessors,
but no world conflagration existed in
his predecessors days. Do you realize
that the dreadnaughts Oklahoma and
Nevada were commissioned for the
first time in the spring of this very
year. yet the money for those two
dreadnaughts was voted. by Congress
in March, 1911, over five years before
the ships were actually ready for duty.
In my hand l hold the bulletin of the
Bureau of Construction and Repair
for August 10th, 1916. In it find
that there are 35 incompleted sub
marines still under construction, and
this without reckoning submarines
authorized in the current year. OF
these uncompleted submarines one
was authorized in 1908, one in 1909.
five in 1912, four in 1913, eight in 1914
and sixteen in 1915. The most note
worthy cases in this extraordinary
list are the submarine Oh, submarine
o. and submarine Schley. The Oh
and the o. were authorized seven
teen months ago and not one stroke
Of work has been done on either of
them. The submarine Schley was
authorized by Congress June 30th,
1914 over two years ago. Secretary
Daniels actually has made a contract
which does not call for its completion
until March 10. 1918, nearly four years
after Congress voted the money. The
Schley is to be big sea going sub
marine The fact about the building
contract Is incredible, but nevertheless
it is true. Secretary Daniels on
March 10, 1915, in the middle of a
world confagration, with sparks fall
ing on every side, actually made a
contract under which the Fore River
shipbuilding Company is allowed three
years in which to complete the sub
marine Schley. Meanwhile that same
Fore River Shipbuilding Company is
known to have constructed for the
| British Government in a period Of five
months at least ten submarines of
sufficient size to cross the Atlantic
Ocean under their own power. When
look at this bulletin of the Bureau
Of Construction and Repair l am half
tempted to believe the navy yarn that
Secretary Daniels energy is all "muz-
zle energy"
Army Legislation.
Now let US take look at the new
army legislation. 1 should think that
Henry Ford would treasure as SOU
venir the pen with which President
Wilson signed the Army -organiza-
ton Law on June 8, 1916. This new
louy was widely, hera1ded az giving llS