West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-08-24
THE AMERICAN NAVY
is HIGHLY EFFICIENT

cruiser cannot give and take with IN,
dreadnoughts.
Scout cruisers. four. and six more
to come. More eyes for the fleet. Alb.
solutely necessary"
Like the battle cruiser" he said
the submarine has been permitted "a
gain a very exaggerated value. Ii is
OF course, most useful auxiliary
whose Importance will no doubt in.
crease, but at present there is no eyi-
dence that IL will become supreme
The bill provides for nine feet sub
marines, three coast submarines. 500
ton type. and fifty-hve submarines.
smaller type. provisions that are I'm
line with the recommendation OF the
General Board.
"A feature of the Skagerrak en-
gagement." he continued, was the
convincing demonstration OF the use
fulness OF destroyers. These tiny
ships, primarily designed to serve the
purpose of screen. TO be outriders
for the big ships, have been regarded
as incapable OF attacking first class
ships nthe daytime. The German de-
stroyers descended upon the British
fleet In broad daylight, and the de-
stroyers OF both fleets played an i'm
portant part in the fighting. We feel
that the bills provision for fifty de-
stroyers is amply justified Sol" He
turned in the chair and clapped his
hands together. 1T is a bill that
gives us strength, and, best OF all. q
bill that gives us balance.
Granting all that" | said" but
what about the need OF itY" AS care.
FULLY and fairly as possible. l present.
ed the feeling OF many people in man.
Western and middle West states
ceiling that this expenditure of M
lions on the navy was departure
rom American traditions, a hystericaI
surrender TO the madness that has had
mold on kings. His fine head nodded
appreciation Of every point, but at the
end he sperad wide his hands I'm a
sweeping gesture OF dissent.
81 know that / am not a militarist {"
he said. Those who have never seen
war, or who have only played at war.
may talk in terms OF jingoism, but
men who know what war is, and what
var does, are the last in the world to
approach II I'm any swash-buckling
ashton. / hope the day will come
"hen peace and Justice rule the world,
'ut that day is not yet here. Not all
'ur idealism can brush away facts. II
We are to dwell I'm peace. we must be
able TO protect that peace" He walk
cd 10 the open window and pointed to
The shining stretches OF the sea.
Look at our coast line! From
Maine to the Canal; from the Canal
20 Alaska! Russia has had TO main
lain two distinct fleets, one In the Bal
tic, one in the Black Sea. Our pro-
blem is much the same. We cannot
be said to have met our defensive
needs until we are able TO maintain a
fleet in the Pacific ocean as we'll as I'm
the Atlantic. Our geography, the i'm
mensity of our coast line. join to make
the Senate navy bill minimum re-
quirement. No. MOI" he exclaimed.
I'VE must accept conditions as we find
them although we are not to give up
hope OF changing the conditions"
Given this increase" he declared,
! given the ships and men that this bill
provides, and the United States. as
never before, will be a PEACE power,
able at all times to protect and TO ad-
vance its standards Every cent ap-
propriated by this bill is payment on
an insurance policy"
How about men?T
I'VE now have $4,000 and the bill
authorizes $4,000"
Can you get them?"
II don't think there is a doubt OF II.
rhe navy today offers as ane chance
or the American youth to ~ himself
ior life as any other department of
endeavor"
Tell me. Admiral Dewey" and /
braced myself for the momentous
question: Has Secretary Daniels de-
moralized the navy?"
"Bosh!" The exclamation was one
Of disgust and Indignation. "Facts
and figures tell their own story The
navy was five thousand short Of the
number of enlisted men allowed by
aw; over six thousand have been
added, although more rigid examina-
lions have forced the rejection OF FIVE
out Of every six. only 90 per cent Of
honOrably discharged seamcn were re-
5nlisung For more than a year about
90 per cent have re-enlisted. Deser-
tions have been cut In half and discip-
line has been improved TO an extent
that has permitted the restoration Of n
prison ship and disciplinary bar
racks to normal uses. No. sir. the
navy is NOT demoralized, and those
who make the charge are guilty OF
ialsehood and Misrepresentation"
did Secretary Daniels ever issue
an order for officers and men to mess
together, only Withdrawing the order
when informed that It might bring
whites and blacks to the same table?'
"slanderousl No such order was
ever heard Of"
II had been my purpose to take Nd
with Admiral Dewey every one Of the
small things alleged against Secretary
Daniels-every enc Of the petty
charges that press and magazines