Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-12-02
SOME OPPOSITION
IN CONGRESS TO
GREAT NAVY PLAN
Many Think That Departments
Estimate Of Enlisted Men Is
Much Too Large
WILL DETERMINE BY
THE POLICY ADOPTED
Many Bluejackets, Enlisted For
Emergency, Seeking To Be Re-
turned To Civil Life Again

There are indications that there
will be considerable opposi ion at the
Capitol to the recommendation of the
Navy Department as to the enlisted
strength of the Navy. For the next
fiscal year he department has sub
mitted estimates for 352 1000 men, plus
hospital corps of 1855 men.
So far as the hearings before the
House naval committee have pro-
gressed an inclination to reduce this
number has been apparent.
The estimate is based upon the num-
ber of men that will be required for
the permanent Navy--that is what will
be needed to man the permanent ves-
sells as distinguished from the various
classes of craft hat are temporarily
in service for the period of the war
and the naval authorities believe that
their service will be crippled serious
/ ly unless enough men are authorized.
AS far as the number of men the
/ Navy will need next year is concerned.
much depends upon developments.
For example If the work of he Navy
in connection with the operation of
merchant ships under the shipping
board is continued in time of peace,
many more men will be needed, up to
possibly total of 100000 Thus de-
termination of policy will govern the
requirement S as to men.
In connection with the subject of
the Navy's need of men, the strong
efforts being made to secure release
of individuals from the service has
/ a bearing. 1t manifestly will be inn
possible to let all go Immediately who
enlis ed for the war, for If that were
done only comparatively small nu-
cleus would remain.
Naval officials point out that the
war is not over, and that it is neces-
sary for the Navy to protect itself
against possible contingency more
over, the Navys duties will continue
for an indefinite period after the war
in lines that would not ordinarily per-
tain in time of peace. Patrols must
be maintained, the American forces in
Europe mus. be gotten home, and the
merchant marine must be officered and
manned. Even IL the Navy does not
ultimately retain operation of mer-
chant ships it must continue for the
present to furnish crews for them un-
til some other arrangements are eff
fected All these needs are in addition
to the normal requirements of the
, fleet.
Nevertheless, the problem of de-
mobilizing he temporary naval forces
has been undertaken. and orders have
been issued to release 20 per cent OF
any command, provided requests are
received from men that are serving
either in the naval reserve or in the
regular navy for the duration of the
war. This percentage. which applies
for the present, will be readjus ed from
time to time, but men serving in rat
ings that are in demand will not be
released unless others are available to
take their places. Men tina. have en-
listed for the duration Of the war are
reminded, however, that If they de-
mand their discharges now they are
not entitled to honorable discharge
). since their contract with the govern
ment is not fulfilled until peace is
formally declared.
The Navy personnel problem is link
ed more or less with the determine
: tion of fixed mill ary-naval policy
1t probably will be difficult, as it was
with the Army in time of peace, to
: maintain an enlisted personnel by the
voluntary enlistment system, for. no
ma ter what allowance Of men Con-
! gress may approve for the. Navy, il
necessarily must be considerably
larger than it was before the war
Therefore. if system of universal
service or training is adopted for the
Army, probably it will have to be ex-
tended in some form to the Navy and
marine corps.