West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-08-24
The Attacks Made Upon Our
Naval Fighting Forces Are Ab-
sointcly False-The Navy Today
is IN Better Trim Than Ever Be
lore IN It's History

An able and authentic exposition O
co.d,tious as they really exist toda,
la the American navy is contained in
the following Interview given by tn,
6, at naval hero, Admiral Dewey. e
George Crecl, and published i'm tn,
Lew York Sunday World. and which
. No repahlish for the benefit OF all ouI
subscribers who may not be reader.
OF that excellent publication.
For two years and more the United
States navy has been the subject OF
diSc1ssion as bitter as IL is confused
The disputes between pacifists and
mihtarists, between Democrats and
Republicans, have resulted In a Babe,
and out of II all have come prejudices
that do not care 10 bother with facts
The people of the United States are
entitled TO the truth, the whole truth
aud nothing but the truth. What is
siander and what is fact? Is the
Lazy. as 1t stands today, an asset or a
Liability? Is the navy bill honest and
adequate. or dose OF EYE wash ?'
Has Secretary Daniels "demoralized? ?'
Is he faithful public servant, wor-
thy of support. or joke?
One man only has the authority
al possesses the exact knowledge to
a.swer dispassionately these ques-
lions. That man is Admiral George
Dewey. He has been in the u. s.
navy since 1854 serving through two
wars. Since 1908 he has been head
of the General Board, passing upon
naval defects, naval needs and naval
pftns. No administration has power
IL hurt him. BY law he is exempted
from the usual retirement provisions,
All il he does decide 20 retire. IL will
-,bc of his own volition and at full pay.
No partisan quarrel has ever had pow
or TO drag him from his height.
Aside from these qualifications, he
is loved OF the American people as
few men have ever been loved. In a
day when there is much talk of his
day when there Is much talk of
Ame.fcanism. he stands as one who
has ris<cd his life-for it. and who has
devoted that life to giving richer, fin
e. meanings to the world
fornd him in Atlantic City, In a
~ az, wind-swept room that looked
oai ove- the sea. Ills hair has whit
oncd. but otherwise he is but little
chaagod by the years that have pass
cd since the wonderful day he re-
turned from Manila to hear the
shouts OF nation. The same clear,
stcadiast eyes. the same tremendous
simplicity, the same faith in America, ,
Speaking slowly. but never hesitat-
igly, for three long hours he con-
ailered the United States navy, past,
present snd future; world war. world
peace, national ideals and national
destiny, Only I'm his first answers,
when an evident Indignation gripped
him, did he depart from the tone OF
one trying TO pick his words in the
interest of understanding.
"The attacks that have been made
upon the navy" he said, "are as false
as many of them are shameful II is
not Junk heap. There is no demor-
alization. Both i'm material and per-
gonnel we are more efficient today
than ever before. Our ships are as
good as any. our officers are as good
as any, and our enlisted men are the
finest In the world
1t is true that we have not enough
ships or enough men. But navies are
not built in day. IL was between
1906 and 1909 that Germany passed us,
and that we commenced to lose rank
as a naval power. This is I'm no sense
criticism of administrations Con-
gress, after all. expresses public SEN
timent in large degree, and the reason
we dropped was because the people
wanted to drop The recommends
tions Of the General Board went un-
heeded because they were not backed
np by public opinion. Until 1914, peo-
nle were thinking In terms OF world
peace. II Is different today, and it is
today that should concern us"
Tie walked over 10 his desk and
taking up q copy OF the Senate navy
bill spread It out before him For q
moment, as 10 to measure his words
ho tapped II with big, brown fore.
cnger ard then he said
"rhis is the best bill ever passed by
either House OF any Congress- II
takes the 6ye-year program OF the
General Board and changes It into 8
three-year program. n passed. II will
restore us to second place and enabl,
the United States to meet on equa
terms any power in the world. sav,
one
I asked him then for a consldera
ton OF the bill. or rather some sucl
analysis as would permit a civilian {,
do little thinking for himself Pa
uenny he went over each item
aFour battleships At once, and ST
more within three years" Now tina
he was grmly on his own ground, hi
words came like bullets. "The grea
clash at the mouth OF the skagerral
gave a test to every theory As
result. naval authorities are nov
agreed that the battIeship is still tn
principal reliance OF navies. As neve
before, u Is proved that victory or dc
feat rests with the dreadnought.
-Four battle cruisers at once. an