The Washington herald., 1918-06-16
3 MILLION IN j. S. ARMY WITHIN SIX
WEEKS, ROWDER ANNOUNCES; NAVY
FORCE, 13l ,4S5, MAY Be PERMANENT
Administration Policy as to
Increased Personnel AL
- tered on Pleas.
STRENGTH $1,000 NOW
Daniels Points Out New
Ships Will Require Ad-
ditional Men.

A great United States navy, as
permanent establishment is guar
anteed in a change of policy an
nounced by the administration yes
terday.
A minimum permanent enlisted
strength of I3I ABS men for the sea
forces, exclusive of naval reserves,
who have entered for the period
of the war, will be Immediately
authorized by Congress.
The present authorized enlisted
strength of the permanent estab-
lishment is only $1,000. The in
crease desired, and now assured,
will be required to man the new
fighting ships which will be ready
for service within the next twelve
months.
Secretary Daniels, in a letter to
Chairman Padgett, of the House
Naval Affairs Committee, has made
known the change of policy. The
communication was accompanied
by letters from Admiral Benson
and Admiral Palmer showing the
necessity for the permanent in
crease.
Urges Permanent Increase.
Prior to this time the Secretary
of the Navy, acting in accordance
with the policy of the administra-
tion. has recommended that in
creases be authorized for the period
of the war only. He now urges
that the Senate amendment to the
naval appropriation bill, which the
little navy men have opposed, be
adopted by the House.
The following statement from
Chairman Padgett, leader of the
little navy" group. is regarded as
assurance that Secretary Daniels
request will be promptly granted:
The recommendations of Secre-
tary Daniels mean a change of pol
icy for the United States with re-
spect to the navy. 1t means the
country will be committed to the
maintenance of a big navy after the
war. Heretofore 1 have opposed
this large permanent increase in
the personnel because felt that our
facilities, for training would make
it impossible to provide enough Of
ncers for this number of men.
in view of the Secretary's recon-
mendations, I am willing to accept
his estimates. 1 shall ask the House
to concur in the Senate amendment
to the navy bill and agree to this
permanent increase"
$500 More Omcers.
The number of permanent officers
in the navy at the present time is
2.700. 1t Is estimated that at least
$500 more officers will be required
Immediately. Admiral Benson and
Admiral Palmer are certain the
right sort of men for permanent
commissions can be obtained.
In this connection 1t is understood
that extraordinary opportunities may
soon be offered to men who have
served in the Naval Reserve,
Admiral Benson says the principles
for which the United States has en-
tered the war can not be won and
sustained without a great navy. He
put ii this way:
Regardless of when the war cpjs,
the world Is going to be in a per-
turbed state In years to come. There
are many questions which will arise
out OF this war in which we are OF
necessity vitality interested. In order
to be in a position to assert our rights
as a people and to insist upon the
adoption at ;ho peace conference OF
the principles for which we have en-
tered the war a navy comparable with
our Importance Is the first essential"
Undermnnning Involved.
Admiral Palmer said we were now
spending s1,5O0.00o,0o a year for a
navy, but hesitating about spending
81, ,OO0,O more for the officers neces-
sary to run it properly. without
such officers he declared we were
inviting national catastrophe.
Merely to man our feet properly
and to make our war organization
efficient we must have Immediately
twenty-seven additional rear admi-
rails, and by July /, 1919, six more,
making in all thirty-three rear ad-
mirals required by that date, in ad-
dition to those we have now" said
Admiral Palmer.
In supplementary letter to Sec
retary Daniels, under date of June
2. Admiral Palmer gave startling fig
ures to show the danger facing. the
navy because Of insufficient oficers
and men. Among other things he
said:
IF We could be sure that the en-
8 H ..E