Grand Forks herald., 1917-02-23

"AA eAo OHAteo StAteS navy be called
upon to play II we are finally drawn
allies? 1t has been freely assumed
that, because We are unprepared to
land an army in Europe. our role
would merely be that of banker. ar
morer. and victualer to the entente
allies. but such q belief is hardly jus-
titled.
The navy 10 our first line of defense.
II would have variety Of work to do
the movement we changed our status
from a neutral to q belligerent nation,
and. notwithstanding its activities.
might be confined simply to the defen-
siVe That fact alone would assured
ly have favorable influence upon the
naval operations of the allied fleets
around the British Isles and in the
Mediterranean.
There can be no doubt that the
navy department has already made
ITS dispositions in the event Of hos
oities. What these may be no one
save those who direct naval affairs at
Washington can tell. The navy is now
AZ work In secret. We do not know
for certain where the main battle
feet Is stationed: we do not know
whether the various units in the At
lantic and Pacific will be sent, but II
is not difficult to outline the defen-
sive measures which must be taken
for the protection Of our ports and
the trade routes leading to them.
Suppostng that war is fact and
the United states navy takes over the
patrol OF the western Atlantic. north
and south. Such q move would have
an immediate effect in European
waters. The meat ships from the
Argentine, the oil ships from Mexico,
the munition carriers from our own
ports would come under the protec-
ton Of American war vessels for at
, least q part Of the voyage to Europe.
Most OF the French and British cruis-
ers-and there is a large number Of
them steaming along the Atlantic
trade routes-would be released for
service in fighting submarines and
conveying transports. while those that
remained on this station would have
the use of American ports to reflt and
coal.
A great burden would be taken off
the shoulders Of the allied navies.
England would no longer have to
worry about the transport of oil from
Mexfco-the great fuel reservoir of
the royal navy-while American COM
merce would under the circumstances
move with a greater degree of security
along the ocean highways. Moreover.
any German raiders which succeeded
find their task of destruction a diff
cult one II their enemies were multi
piled by the addition Of the American
fleet.
In the event Of war we shall un-
doubtless witness a vast expansion Of
our auxiliary fleet. The navy needs
more light, fast vessels for cruising off
shore, more colliers and Oil fuel YES
sells. more supply ships, many more
ANAL AYyf0
the harbors and along tho coast. For
tunately, 1t will be possible to draft
! many Of these vessels from the mer-
chant service.
Considerably more than a year ago
the navy department took the pre-
caution to order survey of all
American merchantmen which would
serve its purpose in time Of war, and
the result Of this farsighted work will
be Immediately apparent il call for
auxiliaries is sent out. The navy de-
partment also has a list Of motor
boats and yachts which would form
a mosquito fleet" as 1t was called
In the Spanish-American war, Of no
mean proportions. Our fishing indus
try has just begun to adopt the steam
trawler. and the number of these ves-
sells under the American flag is in
sigI if1cant. but we are fortunate in
having a different type Of craft which
Is almost as useful. This is the sea-
going tugboat. manned by hardy, re-
sourceful seamen-sailors who could
be depended upon to do the heroic
work that the British fisherman is
doing. The tugboat fleet is large
Moreover, the coast guard fleet, of
which the nation has reason to be
proud, would also be drafted into the
| naval service, and as it's vessels are
already lightly armed they would be
available for service at once.
The necessity for a large number of
auX!liaries is apparent when one con-
siders the navy's deficiencies and the
extent of the coastline which must be
protected. The navy is deplorably
short Of fast, light cruisers Of the
type which both England and Ger
many have used so successfully, and
there are but forty-nine destroyers
flt for service. according to the United
States Navy Year Book for 1916, just
issued. This publication says that
tnere are sixteen coast torpedo boats
available, seventeen torpedo boats
forty-two submarines, eight tenders,
twenty-eight gunboats. four trans
ports, four supply ships, one hospital
ship, twenty-one fuel ships-probably
the best of their type in any navy;
fourteen naval yachts, forty-seven
tugs, and eight other vessels of spe-
cial type. The less said about the air
service the better. although the
means for expanding this useful arm