Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-30
NEED Of OFFICERS
IN NAVY MAYBE MET
Fifty Per Cent Increase in An
napoIis Cadetships Now
Seems Assured.
OUTLOOK REVEALED TO
NAVAL MILITIA BODY
Secretary Praises Work of Citizen
Branch Of Service-Representa-
tive Padgett Speaks.

Probabilities of a so per cent increase
United States Naval Academy at An
napolis were put in very favorable
light when Representative Padgett,
chairman of the House committee on
naval affairs. told those present at the
banquet of the Naval Militia Associa-
ton of the United States that just be-
fore he came there Speaker Clark had
informed him that he would be recog-
nized on Monday for the passage of
the bill providing for the increase. AS
Representative Padgett sat down Sem
ator Page of the Senate committee on
naval affairs said that he could give
assurance that the bill would have easy
sailing in the Senate. Representative
Padgett had already spoken, but fol-
lowing the remarks of Rear Admiral
Blue. chief of the bureau of navigation.
in which the latter told of the urgent
need of officers, he again arose and told
of his conference with the speaker.
Navy Never Held Down.
Although there have been efforts from
the beginning of the nation to restrict
the size of the army, Secretary Daniels
declared that there never has been any
attempt to hold down the navy, for, he
said, the people have always felt that
on a strong navy would fall the duty
of establishing first line of defense.
In the early days, he said, the people
and at the Continental Congress efforts
were made to restrict the size of the
army to 1000 men. but no such attempt
was made to keep the navy down.
No one. said the Secretary. more than
the members of the militia recognized
the need of training for service in
time of war. He took the occasion at
this time. he said to say for himself and
for the officers of the navy that they
looked up to the members of the
militia. who gave of their time and
energy without adequate remuneration,
with qualification. In the naval militia,
he said, there was ample evidence of
the fact that there is as much patriot
ism now as there was in Washington's
day. The militia has always shown
up well in the past wars of the coun-
try, and there has been many time,
he said. when the regulars have had
to get hump on themselves to keep
up with the militiamen."
Congratulates Officers.
the showing made during the past year
aboard the battleships in their annual
cruises. and told of the great improve
ment of the previous year.
Partisanship and politics have no
place in the consideration of the
navy. Representative Padgett declared
craftsmanship or political wrangles of
any kind in the committee, in the
House or anywhere in the country with
reference to the navy. There is no
more politics in battleship than there
is in sweet potato. because the navy
is the common possession and the
pride of the people, and partisanship
must stop at the waters edge Under
no circumstances must the navy be de-
based by political wrangles. 1t has a
history of unbroken triumph and glory
Our navy has never turned the stern
of it's ships to the PROV of the enemy's
The men behind the guns are the men
in front of the enemy's guns. The mer
of the navy who offer their lives and
bodies in time of war will never be-
tray the confidence of the American
people.
Lauds Personnel of Navy.
1.-The navy no longer is composed Of
'tars' or wharfrats. In the navy today
sou VIII HHu the DeSl youilS men from
the best homes of all the states-from
the cities and from the farms"
The naval militia he praised highly
He said it was doing an Important
work, part of which consisted of re-
naming at home and inspiring a re-
spect for the navy from the folks at
home.
He condemned those who tried to be-
little the navy in an effort to argue
for building program, but. he said. 81
believe in an increase in the navy for
the navy's sake. and do not believe in
libeling it to gain our ends"
The naval militia, he said, is a body
capable and competent to carry to the
American people the truth about the
navy, and inspire that confidence that
will form the basis of intelligent
Judgment on the part of the people.
Naval Militia Improvement.
Telling of the great improvement of
the naval militia, Rear Admiral Blue
explained what the department was
trying to do for this branch of the
service. The plan to assign battleships
to. the naval militia organizations
along the coasts. he said. would give
the officers and men much valuable
training on ships of the character on
which they would serve in time of war
"If the entire navy be commissioned
tomorrow" he said, the best that
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