Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26
SAYS REFORM IS NEEDED
in THE US. NAVY SYSTEM
Admiral Winslow Believes Radical
Changes Required to Obtain Eff
fcient Fighting Force.

Admiral Cameron MGR. winslow,
commanding the Pacific fleet, told the
House naval affairs committee yester-
day that the entire system of govern
ment and operation of the navy is
wrong, according to his view. He be-
gan with the midshipmen at Annapolis
| and ended with ship and gun construc-
ton, and had fault to find all the way
through. He declared that radical
changes are necessary to obtain an
efficient fighting force.
He said that boys should start their
sea training at fourteen, and spend
two years in getting the sea habit
The polytechnic education now given
to midshipmen, he said, was unsu1teu
to naval needs. In his opinion more
attention should be paid to giving the
midshpmen the training to handle men
and combinations of ships at sea he
said that from the day the boys en-.
tered the Naval Academy a system OF
selection should be applied to govern
promotions, eliminating men unnt TOT
daring, nerve-racking tasks that
would be theirs in war.
Higher Speed for Battle Practice.
He said that maneuvering and battle
practice should be carried on at the
highest speed, and not at the low speed
now adopted.
Asked how many flag officers in the
navy he thought were capable OF De
velopment to complete fitness Tor h1Sh
command, the witness said:
II do not think any of us in the up
per grades have had sufficient expert
ficiency.'' He added that something
might be accomplished if a number Of
captains or commanders were set aside
and trained for flag officers. the men
best fitted to be selected for actual
commands.
Representative oliver said he had
gained the impression from the ad
mirars remarks that he considered
himself possessed of a high degree of
efficiency other officers did not pos
sess.
Il probably have had greater expert
ence with ships and combinations of
ships than any other officer of the
navy" Admiral Winslow replied, but
that I am any better than other Of
ficers. I have realized that in order
to equip myself for what the country
paid me for. it was necessary for me
to go to sea with ships and to study
the War College game board"
Discusses American Ships.
Inc admiral indicated he believed
that. although American ships were
steadily improving in design. 1t was
doubtful whether they now equaled
ships abroad.
Il have never said" he continued,
that our fleet could not fight. 1t could
fight. 1t would fight" He added that
1t was the whole system he attacked,
believing 1T could never produce eff
fciency of the fighting forces in men
or ships.
Representative Britten sought to in
terJect the question Of what amount of
armament made a ship a war craft as
against defensively armed merchant
man.
Il want to ascertain" he said, in re-
ply to Chairman Padgetts suggestion
that such discussion was not pertinent
to the committees work, Just how
heavily a merchant ship would have to
be armed before the President of the
United States would warn Americans
to keep off her"
president Better Able to Answer
Representative Padgett suggested
that the President was better able to
answer that question than Admiral
Winslow.
Admiral Winslow said he had had oc-
casion recently to study the subject
and form an opinion. 1t was purely a
question OF international law, however,
he added. and as such he thought it