New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
The Naval Reserve Middle
Bu A. FrederickS

70 3.inch. If they had guns it IS probable
that the men on board these scouts wouii
do more harm to themselves and TO the ooa'S
than 10 any enemy. because few nave hau any
experience with guns.
The Naval Training Association advertised
that schools for gunnery had been estao-
Ished. and more than 1000 have applied LOT
such instruction ard have shown that thev
arc properlv qualified to take the course Of
instruction. but there are no guns.
Tho Coast Defence men now have one
1-pounder. a Colt machine gun and a Lewis
gun. the latter lent by the company building
il. and that is all that it has been able to
obtain in spite of appeals to the Washing
ton authorities. Consequently instruction
in gunnery has had to be given up for the
time at least. No one knows when 1t VIII DC
possible TO get guns.
No Boats. No Guns. No Training
There are other naval districts where spe-
cial efforts have been made TO enroll men
in the Coast Defence Reserve. The first
takes in Boston. the second extends from
Chatham to New London. this is the third
and the fourth includes the Delaware River
PHILADELPHIA. and in each ofsthese enrolment
has been heavy; but the same unsatisfactory
state of affairs exists-no boats. no guns, nc
training and little likelihood Of there being
any for a long time.
In the meantime destroyers are represent
ing America in the war and the Allies
France and England. are fighting desperately
for the whole world What will happen
when ore or more of the German raiders get
through the British blockading line? what
will happen if German submarine comes
across the Atlantic?
A British naval officer now in this coun-
try is the authority for the statement that
they will come. He says: "ln spite of all the
vigilance of the British fleet some are bound
70 slip through from time TO time, and then
tie towns on the coast will suffer just as
towns and villages on the English coast have
suffered. The Germans will not gain any
military advantage by such action, but they
will try to do some damage out Of pure devil
ment and to maintain their established
reputation for ruthessness."
This officer says that it is the opinion OF
british naval officers that the German fleet
will some time make a dash out and some
of the fast cruisers will get away. These
boats will sweep across the Atlantic and
give the American warshps that are ready
and on this side a chance for battle. but
they will also destroy everything they can
before being destroyed.
Wanted: 4 Wide-awake Business Man
Just what sort of man should be Secre-
tary of the Navy in this country seems TO
be a matter Of opinion. The officers in ac-
tive service say any one except the present
incumbent They are all working hard, but
are greatly discouraged because there Is
so little encouragement given to them in
Washington. Some citizens think that a
naval officer should be the Secretary of the
Navy. but this idea does not find favor with
the officers They say the training a navy
man gets as a rule does not fit him for
business. He understands vessels of all
types. he studies naval warfare and knows
what is required TO make the navy efficient
both in ships and men. tie knows how to
handle ships and men, but when it comes
10 placing contracts buying materials or
conducting the business of the navy he is as
a rule wanting There are some navy
men who are exceptions to this rule, but they
are few What the navy men would like
is a live, wide-awake, energetic business
man as Secretary of the department, man
who would let those who have devoted their
lives to naval warfare conduct the fighting
part of the work and who would give them
the necessary support with guns and sup
plies.
With such a man at the head of the de-
partment the American navy would make
itself felt in the war.