New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-07
Needs 3 DreadnOughts and
4 Big Cruisers. Says Ad-
miral Fletcher.
FAVORS PRESENT
PROMOTION PLAN
House Committee May ASK
Gardner Where He Got Secret
Target Records.


roughts and four bsttle-crusers added
10 the American feet. built and au-
thorized, would make it the equal in
fighting strength TO the present Ger
man feet, Admiral Fletcher, command
er OF the Atlantic feet. declared to-
day before the House Naval Commit
tee. While Germany had seven battle
cruisers and the United States none,
the admiral said. the 35-knot craft pro.
posed by the Navw Department would
be so much superior to anything now
afoat that four Of them, possibly
three. would more than Offset the seven
German boats.
with the present feet OF forty-two
batteships Of al types, three add
tiona dreadnoughts. and seven battle
cruisers. Admiral Fletcher thought I'VE
could reasonably expect 20 make
good defence, although not an absolute
one, of both coasts against any com
bination OF two enemy powers that did
not include Great Britain
Dislikes Promotion Plan.
The admiral said that he and ma
ioritv Of the higher officers OF the
navy disapproved the Personnel
Boards proposal to substitute promo
ton by selection for the seniority sys-
TEN. II the President we're authorized
TO transfer per cent Of the captains,
commanders and Lieutenant command
ers 10 the reserve list, employing them
in consular work abroad, as instructors
IN military schools, or in other work
for the government. the way for pro
motion of Efficient officers would De
omen without additional expense. The
present system Of selection for high
commands and bureau heads, he said,
provided sure way or putting the
right man in the right place.
Admiral Fletcher thought that the
training and education OF all navy Of
fcers was so nearly identical that to
make selection among the officers
in any grade of those qualified
Tor promotion. az proposed. would be
difficult task. There was little 10
choose among 90 per cent of the men
in any grade. he added. all being re-
durcd 20 be experts in many subjects,
such as seamanship. gunnery ana engl-
noering. and 20 have. in addition.
knowledge OF international law De
vond that Of the average lawyer. AS
natural process. men now specialzed
along the lines 10 which they felt the
most attraction and were appointed 70
posts that would get the best results
for the navy from that study
An investigation as TO where Repre-
sentative A. p. Gardner. Of Nassachu-
sets. obtained the figures on the tar
get nractice Of the United states Navy,
which formed fhe basis of an uniiat-
tering statement as 10 the fleets abll-
- y l,ss |, IN
time ago. NAV follow g declaration to-
dav by Representative Oliver. OF Ala
bama. that he would ask the Naval Al
fairs Committee to summon Mr.. Gard
ner 10 explain.
Mr.. Gardner said later that he had
not been asked 10 tell where he OBJ
tanned the figures. and that he would
not tell If he should be asked.
Denounced as Traitor.
"Whoever divulged these matters.
snid Chairman padgett, sis false 10 his
trust and a traitor 20 his country. |
want my frank opinion OF him TO APP
pear in The Record.
REPRESENTATIVE Britten, Of Illinois,
who said he had been asked TO present
the target figures by Mr.. Gardner, Of
fered the record to Admiral Fletcher
and asked what he had to say. The ad-
miral said that records were sent TO
the Navy Department By commanders
Of the vessels engaged In practice. and
we're regarded in the navy as highly
confidential.
Secretary Daniels, unable TO find AT
American contractor 10 meet the speed
requirements Of the two fleet subma.
rines authorized last year, has turned
over to the House committee the whole
question of their construction. Chair
man Padgett told the committee to-
day that one contractor had notified
the department he could not guarantee
a speed Of 10 knots. but unless Con-
gress changed the law his bid could not
be accepted. The specifications call for
% knots on the surface if possible and
not less than 30 knots. The commit
tee will consider the subject later.