The Washington herald., 1917-02-28
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column In CIT,

The patriotism of New York's mer-
chants has been appealed to by the New
York City Association, which wishes all
merchants manufacturing articles re-
CURED by the army to submit bids next
Monday for the working equipment OF
the regular army of 10000 men.
For various reasons. among which Is
the necessity of caring for regular Or
ders, New York firms Of prominence
Rnd standing have been reluctant to
bid on army contracts. With this fact
In mind the Merchants Association,
which is strongly on record in favor of
preparedness to defend American rights
and liberties. has sent letter to MEM
bers In a position to supply the ar
ticles needed, urging them to submit bids.
The letter reads in part as follows:
Preparedness in equipment and sup
plies Is just as essential as prepared
ness in men. 1t Is realized that In Or
dinary circumstances many manufactur-
ers and business houses are prevented
from submitting proposals for army sup
plies in a considerable quantity because
of the necessities arising from their ac-
customed and usual commercial contracts
and demands.
Under the existing conditions. hov-
ever. we urge you to study the speci-
fications and to submit proposals in as
large quantities as your present manu-
stances will permit, in order thus to
assist your government in preparing it.
self in equipment and supplies as fully
as possible
A hundred steamships out of the 80 un-
der American registry are expected to
apply and be furnished with guns by
the United States navy.
The navy. Secretary Daniels said yes
terday, is ready to protect American
commerce 1t is known that there are
many 5-inch guns in the different navy
yards throughout the country that were
discarded when the 6-inch guns were
adopted. These, II Is said, have been col
lected in the last month and made ready
for instant use. Now that President Will
son has so plainly declared himself it is
expected that there will be immediate de-
mands for protection and that shipping
from American ports will resume almost
the activity prevalent in normal times.
Two means OF protecting American COM
merce are available-by arming the mer-
chant ships and by convoy. The navy
Is ready to follow either course. or both
the moment the President gives the or
der
1t is presumed in naval circles that
arming the merchant ships will be the
first step The Navy Department has
already assembled at various Atlantic
coast navy yards a stock OF guns which.
in most cases, could be mounted on mer-
chant ships within a few days. The
American vessels could mount these guns
both fore and aft. either two or four of
them. For smaller vessels 3-inch guns
and smaller sizes are available.
The problem OF getting gunners to serve
these guns is more difficult, although
there Is no real barrier there. 1t Is the
belief of the State and Navy departments
that the administration will want TO use
one-time navy gunners. Navy gunners
can be used, but not without injury to
the feet personnel. which should be
avoided II possible. 1t is thought.
Since last August one thousand trained
seamen have passed into the naval re-
serve. of which number probably one
hundred are trained gun pointers. Allot-
ting two pointers to gun, this gives per-
sonnel to man so guns. and in all those
crews the men would be fresh from the
servtce-the very pick OF American
marksmen. There are undoubtedly as
many more gun pointers and trained sea-
men available for gun crews among those
honorably discharged from the navy in
the months before the reserve enrolment
was begun. Thus. 1t is thought there
are men enough to handle the guns. but
II not any deficiency could be made up
with naval gunners.
Navy officials construe the Presidents
language befores Congress as asking for
authority wide enough TO take any meas
ures to defend American ships. That
might include naval conveys, but the
opinion of naval experts is aGaist such a
step, both because it could not INSURE the
conveyed ships against submarine attack
and also because the efficiency Of the
fleet as a fighting machine would be Sc
riously impaired II its units were scat
tered for convoy duty.
The available guns have ample range
and power for the work desired Rang
and rapidity of fire are vital factors i'll
anti-submarine operations. 1t is impor-
tant that the underwater craft be as
sailed before she gets into good torpedo
range. The majority Of cases reported
show this to be 800 yards or less. and
the skill Of the gunners should be suffi
cient to make II dangerous for U-boat
TO show herself at 5000 yards.