New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-25
CALLS PACIFIC
FLEET USELESS
Admiral WinSIOw Says 1t
Might Be Easy Victim
for Single Battleship.
URGES A GENERAL
STAFF FOR NAVY
Commander Declares Admin.
istration's Building Plans
Inadequate.

Washington, Feb. 24.-Rear Admiral
Cameron McRae Winslow. commander
in-chief of the Pacific fleet, told the
House Naval Affairs Committee to-day
that the national defenccs OF the Pacihc
Coast at present amounted to nothing
at all. The entire fleet which he COM
manded. he said, might be an easy We
tim for a single good enemy battieship'
He testified before the committee
through the suggestions made recently
by Representative A. p. Gardner Of
Massachusetts, who said the Admirsfs
testimony would be of great value 10
the committee members.
Admiral Winslow expressed the opin-
ion that many complete changes IN
naval policy were necessary before me
United States floating forces could be
100 per cent efficient. He urged Cen
eral staff for the navy similar TO that
of the army, and policy Of promotion
by selection. instead OF by pure senior
ity. lie gave the committee the impress
sion that the standards of the feet
were not high enough, and that II would
take five years to bring the navy 10 hrst
class fighting condition. lie advocated
reforms both in men and ships and
policies, but was frank TO say that ne
believed il would take years TO bring
them about.
The Admiral declared that even the
A i. NftHa-
programme would not produce an ado
quate fleet, chiefly because of scarcity
of battle cruisers. The programme. he
advised. should provide for more battle
ships as we'll as more battle cruisers.
He pointed TO the many ships which
were now "in reserve" and decried this
naval habit, saying that they should
always be kept in prime condition Tor
immediate service.
Admiral Winslow said that gunnery
on American ships started on the down
grade soon after it had been brought
10 its most efficient point during Presi-
dent Roosevelt's incumbency.
The admiral maintained that all mil
itary functions should be under the
direct control Of professionally trained
naval officers. lie declared that no
Secretary of the Navy had ever had, or
possibly could have had, the knowledge
necessary to pass on the questions
which he must decide under the pres
ent system.
Navy War College Valuable.
The Navy War College. Admiral
Winslow said, was very valuable sd-
junct, and other nations had followed
the American lead in establishing such
institutions, yet it had nearly been
done away with Inder several secre-
taries.
Rear Admiral Badger told the com
mittee that the United States navy
would need on a war basis l02,S15 men
to man the fleet which will be in COM
mission IN 1917. His present peace es-
innate Of $1,000 men was for 5000
more meE than recommended by Sec
rotary Daniels, the difference being due
chiefly. Admiral Badger said, to the
navy boards estimate that 90 per cent
of crews should be kept on reserve
ships, as against Mr.. Daniels's estimate
of 30 per cent.
While the Naval Committee was lis
tcning TO Admirals Badger and Winslow
the Military Committee was taking
steps toward getting its bill for in
creasing the regular army and federal
izing the national guard before the
House within ten days. The commit
zee is making rapid progress in con-
sidering the bill Chairman Hay was
authorized to frame. II is expected a
draft of it will be made public this
week and that it will be favorably re-
ported TO the House some time next
week. II is hoped TO have its consider
alton by the House fixed to follow the
immigration bill.
Crozier's Coast Defence Plans.
Further light on the War Depart
ment's plans for additional coast de-
fences also was obtained to-day, when
testimony Of Brigadicr General Will
lam Crozicr, chief Of army ordnance,
before the Foriifcations Committee.
became available.
The heaviest new Notifications,
General Crozier said, would be placed
at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, which
he described as one of the places
where facilities for land operations
are 50 good that II Is worth while to
especially fortify them TO prevent that
operation, Notwithstanding that they
arc not places where irreparable
damage can be done by the guns Of q
fleet" At other points, such IS
Rockaway Beach. \. Y, and San
Francisco, he said, sixteen-inch guns
mounted in turrets would be added to
the batteries.