The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-02-23
HOW LONG WILL It
TAKE j. s. To GET
READY FOR FIGHT?
By F. NJ. Kerby.

New York, Feb. 22.-How long will
it take the United States navy to get
ready if the United States gets into
war?
These are the questions asked about
the nation today.
The navy has in commission today
just 10 first-class dreadnaught battle
ships of the latest design. To fill out
the "frst-hne" of defense, the feet
contains at present four of the best
of the pre-dreadnanght ships.
AS a screen" for this little fleet,
there are in commission II cruisers of
all types, and SO destroyers fully
manned, while Is more destroyers are
in commission operating with reduced
compliments of men.
For coast defense purposes-includ-
ing those in the Philippines, Hawaii,
and the canal zone-there are 40 sub
marines in commission.
This, with certain necessary auxi-
liary vessels, comprise the active fleet
| today.
Eliminating certain of the cruisers,
destroyers and older submarines it is
the fleet in the Atlantic which is
available instantly.
These vessels have practically full
! crews, are in real, active service, and
could sail at once on wireless orders
to any point.
Forty-eight other fighting vessels
are Gin commission in reserve" with
one-half crews, and all equipped on
board except full stores.
These include two first-line dread
naughts, IS predreadnaughts, II
cruisers of all types and II destroy
I ers.
So far as sailing is concerned, these
vessels could actually put to sea with
in as hours.
But-and it is a big "but" indeed
they would 60 to sea sadly lacking
trained men to operate the machinery
and the guns.
; If war is declared, the president
will Immediately authorize increase
from TATTOO to $1,000 men as pro-
vided in the last naval appropriation
bill.
In addition, there would be avail
able 636 officers and 7,706 men in the
naval militia-partially trained men
who could go on shipboard at once
with some knowledge of their duties.
1t is estimated by Secretary of the
Navy Daniels that there are now IN
this country 10000 officers and men
who have been trained in the navy
and have gone into civil life.
7 A start has been made on the or
S ganization Of a reserve, and it is es-
I timated 5000 trained men of this
class could be secured at once.
In addition to the vessels Gin COM
= mission" and ain reserve" there are
other vessels, of smaller military
J value, ain ordinary" that is to say,
with 5 to 10 per cent of full crew,
/ and all equipment except full sup
: plies. Vs.
=, Ships ain. ordinary" take about two
weeks to make ready for sea, and "a
much longer as is necessary to raise
} their crews to full strength.
, The navy now has one cruiser, two
destroyers, three submarines and IL
torpedo boats in ordinary.
> In addition, there are three very old
second line battleships, four cruisers,
. one submarine, and some auxiliaries
:. tout of commission" These vessels
would require months to make ready
}. for sea, and are of so small military
: value as to be practically off the navy
list.
:, Within a month, therefore, the act
r i've feet would contain, counting
6 ships in commission, in reserve and
in ordinary, at the present time: 30
battleships of the first and second
line, 90 cruisers Of all classes, SO de-
! stroyers, Al submarines, and II tor
pedo boats, counting only the real
J, fighting vessels of the feet.
Five big new battleships are IN
various stages Of completion; eight
destroyers are on the ways or being
fitted out; and 81 submarines are II
course of construction.
- These are only the ships authorized
o prior to August 20, 1916, and do not
include the ships of the "three-year'
program" then authorized and fol
most of which contracts have beer
let.
. Under pressure, with the yards
% working "a hours a day, it is prob
able that nearly all these vessels
> now under construction could be pu
into commission before the end OF the
year 1917, with the exception of tw'
, or three battleships.
That similar speed would be madt
D on the newly authorized ships goe
without saying, and the most effect
y i've means employed would be the i'm
mediate taking over of all privat
II dockyards and their use for navs
construction work