Arizona republican., 1918-12-19
LAYING SPEAKS FUR AUTHORIZATION THAT
 WILL ENLARGE NAVY
Urges Preparation Now For U. s. Part In League Of Nations-Says Increased Personnel Is Necessary
lRepubIican A. p. Leased Wirel

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-Legisla- tion authorizing increase of the perma- nent enlisted strength of the navy from 131,O00 men to 1000 was recom- mended to the house naval affairs com mittee today by Captain H. Laning, acting chief of the bureau of naviga- tion. This would include 175,000 sea men, 24,000 apprentice seamen and firemen in traiISng, 12,000 in trade schools for training and 5000 in the flying corps.
 Captain Laning explained that this large increase of men is needed to car ry out the policy of the naval bureau of operations, as recommended to the na- val affairs committee by Rear Admiral Badger last Thursday of making the navy of the United States equal to the most powerful maintained by any na- tion of the world.'
 Unless an increase in the personnel is authoriZed,' Captain Laning said, mo expansion program can be carried out. The navy was terribly handi- capped by a lack of men, even before the United States entered the war Ships were only half manned and, as fighting units, were almost useless. It was not until early this year that the number of men became sufficient When the naval reserve force is de- mobilized az the end of the national emergency as required by present laws, the navy personnel will be even more inadequate than it was two years ago."
 Annapolis Not Sufficient
 Captain Laning also emphasized the need for more officers in the regular navy and submitted plan by which | they might be obtained. It provided that permanent commissions in the regular navy be given to temporary commissioned officers of the navy, and Eof the naval reserve force upon their passing examinations, and also that the naval reserve officers be retained in the service as long as they are needed.
 | Chairman Padgett objected to the | plan, saying it would break down the l4psssA1t system of obtaining officers 1 through the naval academy. The incen- tive for going to the academy would be lost, he said, if men could get commits sions without going through the four year course at Annapolis.
 If the navy depends upon the acad- emy for it's officers" Captain Laning replied, it can never get the required number. Only 500 officers are gradu- ated yearly from the school, while there will be shortage of 5000 as soon as the temporary commissions are re- voked. Over eight years would elapse before the required number could be obtained, even if there would not be d single retirement in that period"
 Suggests Waiting Awhile
 The advisaility of authorizing big in creases in the navv personnel, at the present time, was questioned by Repre- sentative Kelly of Michigan.
 Why not hold steady until the peace conference is ended and we see how things stand%' he asked Tt may be that all navies, except one controlled by all the powers, will be done away with. In that event. money we spenC now would be wasted"
 Captain Laning replied that might bs advisable if other nations looked at i in the same light, but if they continued their expansions, it would be foolhardy for the United States to sit back ant allow them to get a big lead
 As Admiral Bandger said, a secont rate navy is almost as bad as none a } all," he added
 letter from Secretary Daniels rec ommending that the increased pay o
 enlisted men be made permanent, wa! read into the record by Chairman Pad ; gett