The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-07

factory way to remedy these condi-
lions is for congress, when It provides
for new ships, to provide also for the
officers and men required to man them
at the rate of SO many per each hun
dred tons Of displacement.
THE new navy which we are about
to build under the wonderful three
year program has been won from
congress mainly by the efforts Of the
people, and believe that Of all popu-
lar efforts to this end, none has been
so effectual as the propaganda OF the
National Security league. The pro-
gram calls for what is practically a
new navy. totai1ing no less than 1876
ships, and including ten batt1eshtps,
six battle-cruisers, ten scouts, and q
large increase In our destroyer and
submarine fleets.
This brings us to the question Of
the present status Of the navy in re-
|spect to ships under construction. OF
the dreadnoughts. contracts have been
let for nine ships, three Of which are
about s. per cent completed. two have
recently been started and four. be-
ing the first of the three-year program
have been let and are about to be laid
down.
42oOjUOOyOOO Neeooo.
Nov It is the opinion Of the Nation
al Security league that an emergency
appropriation OF at least $250. 100000
should. be made at once, for rushing
work on new vessels and the repair OF
the old vessels and for tho purchase
Of ammunition and the various other
material which would be Immediately
necessary upon the outbreak OF war.
NJ snvHA nSSI nfN AA
which are building warships should be
required at once to work doub1e-shift.
The present eight-hour law is an en-
ormous stumbling block in the way
OF anv quick enlargement Of our navy.
Furthermore, all vessels of the three
year program should be put in hand
Just as soon as new building ways and
the necessary machine shops and other
buildings can be got ready.
1T IL desirable that the three.year
program should be strengthened IN
those directions In which 1t is weak;
that there should be authorized and
begun, as soon as men and facilities
can be provided. twenty-five addition.
al scout-cruisers, seventy-five addition.
al destroyers and at least forty sea-go-
ing submarines.
Congress has failed to make any
adequate provision for an air navy,
Tor scouting purposes with the fleet
and particularly for assisting In the
detection and destruction OF subIna-
rines. 1t is Imperative that our navy
be provided with a numerous fleet OF
powerful hydro aeroplanes, and provis-
ion should be made on every one OF our
fast scouts for carrying and launch
ing at least three OF these.
"Universai Training.
II have spoken SO Tar az chairman
of the navy committee Of the Nation
al Security league. but IN closing, l
would Ike to add q word or two on
the most important feature OF the sit
uation a. II affects the army. To my
mind, for the army as for The navy
there IL Just one possible solution OF
the problem Of getting men, and that
Is the institution OF universal military
service and training. ana say this
without in the least dispa1aging the
patriotic work done In the years gone
by by the individual Officers and men
OF the national guard. It 10 my convic-
ton that the whole history Of this sys-
tenn, from the war of the revolution,
down. to the recent fiasoo on the Mexf-
can border, has proved. above every
thing else. that IT is inefioienf and I'M
lust There have been many indict.
ments by military men and others OF
the voluntary system, and none has
been SO severe as that contained in
the recent report of the present chief
of staff, General Hugh i. Scott.
The way in which the country has