The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-05
NAVY'S EFFICIENCY
GONE, MEYER SAYS
Declares Invasion Of Coast
Couldn't Be Checked by
Present Force.
INCOMPETENT"

interview at the Hotel Belmont yester-
day that the efhciency Of the navy had
been destroyed by Josephus Daniels and
that ~ war should be declared to-mor-
row II would he absolutely impotent to
check the invasion Of our coast" lie de-
clared that the Daniels programme had
led tho country away from instead OF
toward preparedness.
Congress II talking var" said Meyer.
Thanks to Mr.. Danlels's Incompetence
war tomorrow with my one OF four Eu-
rop. an nations would ind the way open
to our cnciny.
"The public has not yet realized the
deplorable condition OF our navy. Its
confidence has not been. fully shaken.
But I say to you that Generalization
already has attacked tho personnel be-
cause military efficiency has not been
Danicls's goal.
Shortcomings Of Navy
Let us draw the indictment
our nav has no ORGANIZATION pre-
pared to act on q war footing'
1T has no tested war plan.
1T has no tested mobilization plan.
"tt has no general stan.
1T has no national council OF defence.
ut has a small supply OF ammunition'
a shortage Of enlisted men and omccrs
! OH practically every fghting shiT.
at has no enlisted reserves.
I'VE have no fast cruisers. with tint
| exception Of three that are obsolete.
I'VE are lacking In armed hydrop'anes
and the lamentable condition OF our SUD-
/ marine tiotilia was demonstrated In the
fall man9uvres.
I'VE have fewer torpedo destroyers IN
| commission a In reserve.
..Our battleship fleet numbers nfteen.
II Was tw.nty-one when Daniels en'ereo
ONCE.
Five ~ the Connecticut class OF bat
l,shi,s have demonstrated that they
cannot exceed Il speed Of twelve TO
fifteen knots an o without danger OF
: breaking their drive shafts
.pan!e,s has demoraliz.j and as
organized tho organization he ound IN
force when he took office. lie has not
appreciated the conditions this country
has faced since war broke our.
THE last year and IA hall. "A period
Of incalculable value. has been aos"-
lu,ely lost through laniels's failure 10
rrasn the advent Of this nations crisis.
"Nany deplorable defects IN the navy
might have been rcmedied In that time
4, Daniels had not been in the wake OF
public sentiment, an unwilling prosclyte
to preparedness.
"Ins,.ad Of upbuilding the efficiency
OF the navy his hobby has been rather
the pedagogic programme OF nhval
officers teaching naval lighters readin'.
'ritin' and 'r!thmetic.
This programme has led US away
from the preparedness that would mean
20 much to TIE country at this moment
Many OF .hc conditions ! v
enumerated might have been remedied
or ameliorated during that time.
Nov what can be done at this the
eleventh hour?
The remedies lie hrst With Congress
Nothing would make a better impress
sion or do more good than the instant
authorization OF a general stan.
add to hts the authorization OF a
national counsel OF defence. an Increased
navy enlistment OF 10000 men and tht
;assage OF an immediate act to bu!ld
fou, battle cruisers ~ a speed Of not
less than thirty knots.
III will 10 no good 20 enlarge tho
Congressional naval appropriation with
out enlsrglng the personnel. Thai
would only increase taxes on the public
not efficiency OF preparedness IN thu
navy.
The first thing the Democratic Con
grees did when II amt into power ir
1911 was to go into caucus Not.
no battlssh,ps'
1T Is , fact that tho GOVERNING
hasn't even started to lay the keel'
Of the two ha,tleships authorized 10y
the last Congress, and II takes three
ears to build thss" fighters.
Every battiesh.p tina, has beer
launched since Daniels took office. in
GLIDING the jus; launched and testec
superdreadnoush, Pennsylvania. wal
authorized by the former Adminis,ra
tIon."