Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-01-18
NAVY INEFFICIENT
DEFENSE WEAPON
Atlantic Fleet Commander Sets
Forth Glaring Defects in
Report.
SEABOARD INVADED
Twice in One Year---LOses of Two
War Games May Affect AdmiraIs
Future in Service.

Admiral F. +. Fletcher secs Tie fol-
lowing in the United States Navy:
First-That twice within year the
Atlantic coast has been technically
invaded.
Second-That this was due to de-
fects in the Atlantic fleet as to person
mel and material-lack of scout cruis-
ers and efficient submarines
Third-That the Navy lacks enlisted
personnel, and trained officers in suf-
ficient numbers
Fourth-That it cannot hope to cope
successfully with any frst-class sea
power unless radical improvements
in technical detail is worked out
Admiral Fletcher. commanding the
Atlantic fleet. does not consider the
United States Navy, as at present con-
stituted. an efficient defense weapon
His report of more than 10000 words
setting forth in deliberate language
the glaring defects brought TO his at
tention as a fleet commander, has been
ordered withheld from the public and
printed by the Senate as a confidential
document says the Washington Star
The report, it was learned on high
authority, sets forth in unmistakable
terms that the Atlantic seaboard was
twice invaded within year by an "op-
posing force" With the second Of
these invasions, which eliminated in
the landing of enemy forces" inside
of the Delaware Capes because the
submarine defense broke down" the
public already is familiar But the
Atlantic coast had proved vulnerable
to an opposing fleet previously was not
known until yesterday.
The first of these invasions occur
red early in 1915 when war game
was held while the Atlantic fleet was
on the way TO Guantanamo, Cuba,
for the winter maneuyers. An enemy
fleet inferior in numbers designed to
test the efficiency of Admiral Fletch-
er's main forces i'll throwing a net of
coast succeeded in landing hostile for
ces. The verdict of the umpire was
that the defense broke down on ac-
count of lack of fast cruisers for
scout duty. The other defect was
charged to the inefficiency of the sub
marines of the fleet
The report was submitted by Ad-
miral Fletcher several weeks age, but
ase all of the disclosures had been
thoroughly studied by Mr. Daniels it
is understood that he was able in his
letter of transmissal to the Senate to
detail just what steps already had
been taken to remedy the deficiencies.
Admiral Fletcher, is learned, de-
clares that the enlisted personnel Of
the Navy is far too small; that there
is lamentable scarcity of highly
trained officers. and sets forth ia spe-
ci6c detail radical technical improve
meuts necessary He also sharply
crticises the iel6ciency OF the suhma
rines rs shown by the war game ana
declares that the lack of scout cruis9
es would permit almost amy enemy
70 raid our coast and land an inYad-
inc afmy almost at alH
one question deeply interesting ua-
sal men TODAY wa fhe prosable eAeet
upon Admiral F'letchers future career
d yAe loss OF tyo war games Be 1915
Secretary Daniels VII give no iuHma
sion taat chanEe il the command oi
tne 4eeJ is impending bHt there is con-
tnuea discussion OF tfe sH5iect in na-
tal circles
Rear Admire knight president 81
ihe Naval War College comman9er ol
ihe opposing 6eet ia she var game last
fai. aud empire of tie maBegyers. IS
anong those prominently mentioned
as Admiral Fletcher successor. Tbal
Fletcher and knight engaged in q
vigorous controversy over the out
come Of the maneuvers became known
soon after their conclusion. 1t never
could be ascertained that Secretary
Daniels took sides in this controversy
His only comment was that he thought
full discussion and healthy difference
of opinion went long way for -efici-
ency of the Navy as afighting force.