Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-07-08

NbSy uuu NAVAL bthuupOlHts, i uio ~
lastly accounted for when we rea-
!ize how little the average man
knows or can now about these things
except through the annual reports Of
The Secretary OF War and Secretary
pf the Navy. These men, or at least
he Secretary Of the Navy, must, ac-
cording to law, be a civilian and,
therefore, from the very nature OF
things, can not be technically skilled
In Naval warfare; and naturally can
not and does not see things from the
thoroughly scientific and strategic
viewpoint that the strictly Naval or
Military man would see them. Too
often. indeed. they are swayed by
political exigencies rather than from
and basic knowledge,
which ought to govern in such mat
lers. For instance, only short while
before the European conflagratlon
burst forth upon the world, the pres.
ont secretary, Mr.. Daniels, (who, by
The way, IL, in my opinion, very
Iplendid MANI In making his annual
report to President Wilson, wrote In
Tho most eulogistic and nattering
terms Of our feet and congratulated
The President upon tho splendid con.
iition OF our Navy, saying 1t was
ready to meet and vanquish any hos.
lie Navy which might attack II. And
his In the very face Of the fact that
he general board, headed by Admir-.
Al Fisk, who is beyond question one
Of the most renowned and one Of the
most able Naval strategists In the
world. had only a few days before
reported to Mr.. Daniels the totally
inprepared condition our Navy was
In at that time. or course. these
highly colored and highly fiattering
reports were published to the world
and were read by thousands OF men
who were lulled to sleep by this
'Placebo" which was administered
by the nurse and not by the physi-
clan. But II was not filled and placed
on nle whore the world could see II
and realize by reading the prescrlp-
ton the dangerous condition OF the
in this instance, was
the American people. This. my
friends. is what caused the United
States Senate to pass a resolution
asking for the report made by the
general board. headed by Admiral
Fisk. ! suppose Judge Hardy has
been swayed by the same political
sIigencies pretended public econo.
my-because for ten long years no
has voted for a smaller Navy
mean relatively smaller. OF course.
compared with other Navies OF the
world. So that now. instead OF the
American Navy ranking easily the
second GREATEST NAVY in the
world. as II did in 1905. we have to-
Jay exactly reversed positions with
Germany. and Germany Is easily the
Second Greatest Naval Power in the
world. while we are third. with
France q dangerously close rival. In
TACT, France is In third place in per.
'onnel while We are third in material.
hat 10, in nrst-line fighting ships.
actually believe that II the voters OF
his country could know the actual
condition as II exists today, there
would DO very few men returned TO
Congress who have steadfastly, for
The past ten years. voted 10 reduce
this Nation to q state Of unprepared.
aoss which is actually appalling when
We como to realize the condition Of
Affairs. Up to the time OF the Span.
lsh'Ameriean war We. as 4 people.
had refused to take special interest
In World Politics. In other words.
wo positively refused to play In any.
bodys back yard. and had very cor.
daily requested others not to play
In ours. But very suddenly and mys.
tor!ously. about ten o'clock on the
n!ght Of February 18th. 1898. thore
occurred o tragedy which sent n
thrill through the hearts and brains
Of tho greatest and most chiyalric
people that the world has ever
known. rotor 10 The blowingup OF
tho Maine. thn lying at anchor in
the bay OF HAVANA. csba Many OF
you remember Il a. though 1, had
boon yesterday. this sad and terrible
event. Swift ~ the wings OF light.
ming won't forth over the world
that this awful crime must DO
avenged. And what was 10 DO done
Walt for . volunteer armyi Nayl
Nay' Pauline, Tho very frs, order
that won't forth from Washington
was ono TO tho immortal Dewey,
lhon stationed at Hong Rong. China.
TO proceed at onoo 10 the Philippine
Islands. thero 10 seok and destroy
the Spanish neot lying In Manila
hay, Tho othor order was to Ad.
mirals Sampson and schlcy 10 seek
Coverra's squadron and send I, 10
tho bottom Of tho sea You all know
what followed. DO no, need 10 70.
cite II 20 you. There IL not a ak.
teenyearold school boy who can no,
toll you how tho mighty fighting mas.
ter, the Old Oregon. tho very Queen
Of tho Navy, made tho record run
from tho Pacific coast. around Cape
Horn. somo thirteen thousand miles,
without once stopping its engines,
and. near tho coast OF Cuba. Joined
H. Att...tI. -