New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-12

] ! o the EDITOR oil Inc tribune.
| Sir: More eloquent than all the speeches
we have heard on preparedness is this naval
battle in the North Sea. Surely such bat
| le the greatest in history, must awaken
those sleeping Congressman in Washing
| ton from their delusion of security to stern
reality. What lesson for US in our pres
ent situation, Shall we. then, be satisfied
with the army bill which has just passed,
anC is this 10 be the elimination Of our
winters campaign and the only result OF
our wonderful civilians preparedness
parade? Is this not, then, the time to
formulate a more effectual way to arouse
Congress?
! Why not set aside day for prepared
ness brigade of our most prominent citi-
zens from New York and other cities to 60
down to Washington and impress Congress
with the fact that the present army bill
docs not meet the demands of the people p?
Shall we allow Mr. Daniels to continue
feeding the public with gullible fabrications
in order to prevent them from realizing
his incompetence? His sublime egotism in
ignoring the judgment Of our best informed
navy officers on the grave Importance Of
strengthening our navy has passed beyond
the pale Of tolerance and become a crmi-
mai offence.
Allow me to quote from the speech Of Mr..
Daniels in his address TO the officers of the
Atlantic fleet at the Waldorf-Astoria. May
IS, 1915;
"A few days ago a new organization,
hearing the name of the National Sc
curity League, published to the world
this statement:
Investigation discloses that the navy
is neither adequate nor prepared for war;
that it is inadequately manned. is short Of
ammunition and has no organized reserve Of
trained that the submarine fotilla
exists chiefly on paper; that fast scout
cruisers. batte-cruisers. aeroplanes. mine
layers. supply ships and transports are lack
ing and that target practice has been
neglected altogether omitted.
"If the gentlemen who signed the
above libel Of the navy had known the
zeal truth. their signatures would never
have been appended. If they had not
been misled and msinformed they
would have written. instead:
Investigation discoses that the navy is
efficient and prepared for war. that
ships well manned. that the supply OF
munitions is vastly larger than ever before.
and the capacity Of plants has been
practically doubled that the last Congress
authorized a naval reserve. which is in
process of organization: that we have sew
enty-four submarines authorized. built
building, which the equal Of those Of
any other country, and that fota Of
submarines has just completed remarkable
long distance run; that recognize the
need for fast light cruisers that
have lately ordered eight aeroplanes and
drigble out Of 100000 specially appro-
priated by the last Congress for aviation;
that within the last two years the navys
mine equipment has been than
doubled that we are adding yearly 10 our
force OF auxares. while more time has
been devoted this year TO target practice
and manPuvres than in many years past.
We proud Of our navy "a It is We
are resolved to give our cooperation in
making it better and greater"
"As TO the declaration, The navy is
not adequate | am in hearty accord
if it means that there is need of con-
tinued increase of ships OF the type
needed and men to man them. But the
statement quoted does not convey the
tue information. It is grossly unjust
TO the navy. Congress is JUS
titled in slashng if estimates are
added in expectation OF reductions X
IS as dishonest to minimize what the
navy has in order 20 secure additions
as it is to pad estimates Pessimsts
IrOceed upon the theory that Congress
can be stampeded into lavish appropri-
atoms by cock-andbull stories Of un-