The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-04


corporation, has long had an ironclad rule
forbidding men to drink while on duty
Isn't ship as important as a locomotive?
Practically every European power has
copied the order, by the way"
And Workmanship? is it true that
our gunners can't hit the side of a barn."
Before answering he paved over some
papers on his desk, and pulled out a re-
port of some kind.
PROFESSIONAL CONTROL
Here are some facts" he smiled
From 1909 on we did go down, owing TO
the discontinuance Of elementary practice.
But we're pulled up. Admiral Fletcher.
reporting on the 1915 target practice, says
this: 1T is believed that the scores re-
corded are higher than ever before in the
open sea- The recent practices were
held at ranges of 5000. 1900 and $4,000
yards, which are even longer than the
longest ranges at which firing has oc-
CURED in the European war. About 10
out of 20 shots would have hit an enemy
ship at 1900 yards Do you know" lie
said, almost confidentially, II believe our
boys are the best gunners in the world"
DO you think that the Secretary Of
the Navy should be a civilian?
Absolutely. He represents the people,
and the closer he is to the people the
better Same thing with the powers of
congress. L can conceive Oh no greater
madness than to put the navy in the
power of naval group, or the army in
the hands of soldiers alone. AS matter
of course, we would look at things only
from our own professional point of view.
The whole democratic balance would be
destroyed"
"Here! his eye caught a clipping
tucked away under some papers on the
desk. This thing was in the back of
m al M ua W. toll in
about the alleged decentralization of the
navy. Put that in"
What he handed me was an article
by Hector Bywater, the famous English
naval expert, written for a British jour-
nal after a careful study of the Ameri-
can navy. I glanced it over and saw this
paragraph marked:
ut need hardly be said that the politi-
cal head of the United States navy pos
sesses infinitely more power than the
civilian first lord in Great Britain, And
there is every indication that Mr.. Daniels
has been using his power to the utmost.
His friends say he has accomplished Won
ders; his enemies, who are very many,
declare that his personal fads and preju-
dices have undermined the morale of the
| naval personnel and made the service q
laughing stock. But this charge is not
borne out by the evidence. Those best
qualified to speak assert that the last four
years have witnessed a remarkable all
around improvement in the quality of the
personnel. Thanks to the Secretary s
drastic order shortly after he came into
office, intemperance has disappear from
the navy, and although the drink prohibit
ton excited ridicule and bitter opposition
at the start, the majority Of naval Off
GERS now agree that it has had a most
beneficial effect on efficiency and dis
cipline.''
do you stand for that?" asked, look
ing up after reading the paragraph aloud.
IT would be dishonest if 1 didn't" he
answered gravely. "As I told you, I
have been in the navy since 1854. Against
the ISLANDERS that have been heaped upon
the service that I love, I want to say
again that never in my knowledge has
the material and personnel been SO eff
Client. The last few years have been very
wonderful years for the United States
navy"
This is more than I have talked for
years. he said at last, rising to his feet
and holding out his hand. But / want
the people Of the United States to know
that it is all right with the navy. There
is no decentralization, no lack of discipline.
nc absence of enthusiasm. The navy has
never failed America. 1t will not fail"