The Prescott daily news., 1916-04-06

nation gives It's ofncers the training that is given to the naval officers of the United States. And the men in our ships, coming from farms and viii lages, in large part, are the finest morally and physically afoat.
 Tn my days, back in 1880, let us say, the sailor on shore leave who returned to his ship sober was keelhauled or otherwise punished by his mates. All that has changed Intoxicated sailors are see. no more on the streets. Our men are sober, serious and capable. When an estimate of any navy is made, the personnel, as well as the ships, must be considered.
 Lessons of the War.
 "So I had thought that only Great Britain excelled us as a naval power at the outbreak of the war in Europe. Since the war started, France and Germany have geen building ships. Our rank just now, therefore, is uh- certain But we have a good navy. Still, it should be much larger"
 Has the war taught the world any naval lessons?"
 "A great many. It has shown the value of aeroplanes, which are now known as the eyes of the fleet. They are very necessary as scouts. Leav- ing the deck of vessel, they can easily locate the enemy and are there fore of the greatest possible use in the events that occur before a battle.
 The submarines, too, 1t has been learned, are of a real and practical service. All officers think they have hacCyna rp,oponf odd{t{nu n every navy, but there is some dis agreement as to their general utility. Can a swarm of submarines, for in- stance, go to sea, meet fleet and de- stroy 1t? The question cannot be answered until such an attempt has been made and either failed or sue ceeded.
 q asked one of the highest military authorities in the country if 1000 sub- marines, along with mines, could safe guard the United States against in- vasion-the mines to blow up the ene- mics ships of shore, if any hap pened to get that near, the submarines having met the rest and destroyed them before they came within striking distance of our coasts. The answer was that such measure of pro- tection, an invasion of the United States would, to say the least. be made very difficult.
 You see, no one can tell as yet what part the submarines will take in the wars of the future. Their uses are slowly being developed, and we cannot know what they are capable of doing until the French or British fleet meets the fleet of Emperor William.
 Also. it has been learned that bat tie cruisers are required to bring navy up to it's highest efficiency Cruisers formerly Waro used as scouts and to hunt down and destroy the merchant ships of an enemy. They were swift, but not heavy enough to take place in the battle line when large vessels were engaged.
 A Sea Battle First.
 The modern cruiser however, can ti~ht, being covered with armor and armed with large guns Steaming 30 knots an hour, it can run all around a fleet of dreadnaughts and pump shells into them from long distance and from any angle. Our navy must have battle cruisers, besides a great many submarines and aeroplanes, if we mean to be in a position where we can protect ourselves against in- jury, insult or dishonor
 Tt should be always remembered" Captain Weeks went on to say, that our navy will be our first line of de fense. American ships will meet for. eign ships before there is a battle on shore. If the United States goes to war with any nation in Euorpe or Asia, the fleets of the two countries will fight for the supremacy of the sea.
 No invading army will set out for America until it is safe from attack by our fleet. So long as our fleet is afloat, no army will venture to start for our shores, Moving troops from one coun. try to another is an immense under. taking. even when it is safe to do so.
 Four hundred large ships. for ex. ample, would be required to trans. port an army of 250,000 men from Japan to the United States. Armies traveling by water have to carry their own artillery, ammunition and horses. Japan would not send 400 large troop ships out into the Pacific unless it's neet had fought and defeated our fleet Nor would Germany or any other country in Europe attempt an invasion of the United States so long as our fleet, decks cleared, was wait ing in the Atlantic.
 Looking to the East, 1 can seq no probable danger that is likely to occur Tn the near future, unless the allies are thoroughly beaten by Germany. or unless Germany Is thoroughly beaten ny the allies. If the war Is practi- callY a draw at the end the efforts