The Washington herald., 1916-03-28
BY T.. h. JOHNS.


In addressing the American Society of
Naval Engineers. Capt. J. :. Mexican,
L. s. N. defined engineering as the con
version OF natural forces to useful work.
Beginning with this broad definition of
the work OF an engineer. Capt Mexican
increased the scope OF his discussion I'M
til IL included the entire question OF ma
tional defense.
The sooner the country Is brought to
realization said Capt Mexican. that
our national defenses consist of an ade-
quate army and ravy. with all of the
nations resources organized behind them.
the sooner will make real progress
toward preparedness The trouble with
us all is that VIC are inclined to believe
that our particular line Of endeavor is
all that there is to the preparedness for
national defense.
What we need is a more -ha rmonious
relation between the army and the navy
and our industrial resources. | know
of no body of men who are I'm a better
position 10 bring this about than the
engineers In this connection | am not
speaking exclusively Of the naval enSi-
neers. but all branches Of the profes
sion. The engineers know better than
any other class of civilians the needs
If the army and navy. and can better
guide the great industries in taking their
bart in the general organization of our
aefcnses."
Capt. Mexican went on to say that un
der modern conditions a knowledge Of
engineering has become part OF the
necessary equipment Of naval officers.
The officer on the deck. he argued, must
have a Knowledge of engineering as well
as the one in the engine room.
J. W. Powell formerly naval construct
or. but now president of the Fore River
Ship Building Corpora ton. has expressed
the belief that the government authori-
ties and private ship builders can CO.
operate In fixing the prices on warships
in q manner that will save money for
both. He argued that all the govern
ment wanted was protection against ex-
tortion. and the ship builders are willing
to construct vessels for the navy at a
reasonable profit
Just at present, and as far as that
is concerned. at any time" said Mr..
Powell. the ship builders do not care
for the business of the navy. We can
make a larger profit upon private con-
tracts and unfortunately our relations
with private concerns are more salts
factory than those with the government.
We are constantly at arms length with
the Navy Department, and every act
of the ship builders is viewed with sus-
pcion.
AT the same time. the ship builders
do not want to refuse TO ,buid ships
for the navy. The ship builders are
interested in the question of national
defense, and fully realize that they should
make some sacrifices to give the country
an adequate navy. 4 national disaster
would fall as heavily on the ship build
ers as on any other class of people. We
wish protection just as much as the rest
of the people of the country. Further
than this, I believe as a class VIC appre-
Ciate the importance of having an ade-
quate navy more than those who are
not so closely associated with interna-
tional affairs.
Now, II the Navy Department will
enter into an arrangement by which the
price OF ships can he based on the cost
of building them, | am authorized to
say that the shIpbuilders will meet it
half way. This is a feasible proposition
which can be worked out through the
assistance of expert accountants. All
the shipbuilders want is a reasonable
profit and with the cooperation of the
Navy Department along lines that
have indicated we can afford to take
q smaller profit than under the present
system of letting contracts for war
ships"
Answering the complaint that he had
not recommended large enough appro-
priations for aeroplanes. Rear Admiral
W. S. Benson, L. S. N. chief of naval
operations. declared that the navy had
taken up aeroplanes as a military prob
lem. He stated that the department was
asking for aeroplanes as rapidly as it
could use them with the fleet I'VE are
developing a plan of using aeroplanes,"
said Rear Admiral Benson. ''as cbserv-
ers and for the direction Of the fire of
the guns. 1t il q military problem