The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-03-04
URGE FREE SPEECH
ElR NAVY 0H!gERS
Speaker at Preparedness
Conference Says Nation
Needs Expert Advice.
3 Associated Pressl

ST. Louis, March 4.-Freedom OF
public speech by American naval OH:
GERS was urged by Cornelius Wander
bit. chairman OF New York Cttyys
Committee on Defence. In an address
here before the National Confer
ence on Defence OF Mayors. The ma
ton faces q crisis, Mr.. Vanderbilt said
and the decision of the people, who.
he declared, have q right to know what
our naval officers are able to tell us,
will determine whether this nation
shall be preserved from external dom
nation" HeSsaid it, was vital that the
question OF national defence should be
lifted above the plane OF part poll
tics" II
Mi. Vanderbilt, ~favoring a return by
the United States to the position as
second naval power, attacked the poll
cies OF THE few impractical dreamers
whose hopes OF disarmament have sur.
viyed the events of the present war"
and pointed to the teachings Of the
late Captain Alfred T. Hahan that ma.
val defence Is Americas best reliance.
In the planning Of q navy, Mr.. Wander.
btlt emphasized the development OF
the personnel
1.-THE silent, swift and efficient ac-
c-omplishment of the tasks here:
tofore set before. our navel Off.
GERS by our country are too we'll known
to require COMMENT Mr.. Vanderbilt
said. "But is It not our duty, as Amer.
leans, to endeavor to see that these
men are treated as though they were
Americans and citizens ofla free coun
TRY? And at present they at not so
treated. They are in the navy as repre-
sentatives OF the people. In this crisis
these officers should, as American cit
izens, have the right to express their
expert views about our naval needs:
further, we civilians have the right to
hear what these, u representatives.
are able to tell us.
"Yet, arbitrarily, they are deprived
OF their Constitutional right of free
speech and We are robbed of our right
to hear from BUR representatives on
matters involving our lives and the
honor Of our couutry's flag. In de-
fence of this high.handed MEASURE it
is said that naval officers must not be
permitted to meddle in politlcs-as
though the defence OF our country
were matter OF politics. or as IL it.
were usual for u naval officers to
commit such improprietles."
Mr.. Vanderbilt said the corps OF
american naval officers was much too
email and not before 1890 could the
II. s.. equal Germany in this respect,
even IL a start were made today and
Germany took no steps to meet the
competition; and that Japan and 9TH
err leading naval powers had overtaken
this country In the number of trained
officers:
Just at this minute, when we need
the counsel of naval officers to tell
us also what, ships and what guns are,
required, :" Mr. Vanderbilt continued,
these officers are forbidden to speak.
II allowed to speak they would doubt
less say that welneed such a Navy as
will make a hostile invasion OF
soil impossible, and that the nun1eri-
cal size Of this Navy must be deter
mined by comparison with the fleets
OF other powers"
Mr.. Vanderbilt asserted that since
the European war began, Great Brit
ain has added to her Navy one and
one.half times as many units as COM
prise the entire American Navy Of to.
day. "If our Government would spend
for naval purposes q sum equal to
Great Britain's war expenditure for
two weeks he declared. I'VE would
have the material of a Navy sufficient
to protect US from all chance Of in.
vasion."
Responsibility for national defense
rests upon Congress-, Mr.. Vanderbilt
concludes. 'Let us not fail to remem.
Der on days Of primaries and cleo.
tions," he said, how our representa-
tiveB have discharged their Constitu.
tional obligations to provide for the
common defense"
AELIrTtE WAY.