New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-27
The Nays Needs.

cordial approval of those who want TO see
the United States restored TO its proper
rank as a naval power. This country
should at least. stand second in naval
strength. since the vast extent Of coast
line which it has to defend, taken TO-
cether with its commitments under the
Monroe Doctrine, makes the possession
of sea power more essential in our case
than it is in the case of any other ma
ton in the world, except possibly Great
Britain.
When the building programme Of the
majority of the committee was made pub
lie. about ten days ago, The Tribune said
frankly that it was better programme
than that fathered by Secretary Daniels.
Mr.. Daniels recommended the authoriza
ton for 1916-I7 Of two dreadnoughts, two
battle-cruisers and three scout cruisers.
The majority Of the committee reported in
favor Of five battle-cruisers and four scout
cruisers. Since the most immediate need
of the feet, as it Is now constituted is fast
cruisers, we believed that it was better 70
concentrate for one year on the construc-
ton Of ships for scouting purposes than
10 make inadequate provision for fast
cruisers while still further increasing our
very disproportionate strength in dread
thoughts.
Conceding that we have TO choose be
tween Mr.. Daniels's plan and the com
mittee's plan we are for the committees.
But the minority members have now Of
fcred a programme which is much to be-
preferred to either the Daniels or the COM
mittee majority programme, since 1t pro-
vidcs not only for six battle-cruisers and
four scout cruisers, but also for two add
tional dreadnoughts. Here there is sat
isfactory balance between battleships and
scouting ships-a balance which must be-
maintained for several years to come if
we are TO have roundabout navy, in
which all the units can be coordinated so
as to produce the highest fighting eff
cheney.
1t is not a question with the United
States Of not having the means TO create
q standardized navy. The country can af-
ford to put all the money needed into what
is really only highly advantageous form
of national insurance. We have spent
money lavishly on the navy in the past.
But what we have not had in the past, and
what we do not have now, is that expert
control Of our naval development which
gets the worth Of the dollar out of every
dollar expended.
Our policy has been more or less i'm
provised, subject TO damaging variations
and changes and sterilized by an utter lack
Of competent military direction. Could
the navy be purged at once of Danielsism
and the ncompetency and muddlng which
Danielsism represents, we should soon be
able to tighten the burden Of naval appro-
priatons, for we should be able with rela-
lively less expenditure to maintain q navy
with a military efficiency increased at least
100 per cent.
The minority report properly lays stress
on the fact that the worst feature of the
navy at present is its civilian-ridden ad-
ministration. Mr.. Daniels is unwilling TO
surrender his misused control into the
hands of naval general staff He is un-
willing TO provide men and officers enough
20 Keep in commission the ships which we
have. He tries 70 conceal the shortage of
! men by continually shifting crews, putting
an older battleship in reserve whenever d
new battleship is delivered. He has de-
layed the construction of the capital ships
already authorized so as 10 escape the ne
cessity Of admitting that he has skimped
on the personnel.
This year, as the minority report shows,
the Secretary has asked for appropria-
tons for only $4,000 seamen, although
$1,000 are required to furnish crews for
the existing fleet on a peace basis and
$4,000 are required to furnish crews FOR II
on a war basis. The majority of the House
committee recommends a peace strength
OF 1880. But why pare and scrape in
such matters-the more so since, if we get
into war with naval power, we should
need at once 10000 men for auxiliaries. as
we'll as the S2,672 for the warships now
available?
The minority report is not mere po-
litical indictment. 1t is temperate, in
telligent statement of the navy's needs. If
it indicts the present administration Of the
navy. il is only because no presentation Of
conditions in the navy, however moderate,
could fail to establish the utter unhtness
Of Secretary Daniels for the post which
President Wilson still permits him to hold.
Congress may legislate for the navy this
session with zeal and intelligence But