Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-05
NAVY PERSONNEL 10000
TOO SMALL TO MAN SHIPS
Larger wages In Civil Life Cause
Some OF Finest Graft to
BE Laid Tn.
MANY OFFICERS WOULD o,,rr
secretary Daniels Has designations
OF FIFTY Naval Academy Graduatcs
In His Iiunds-Cnn't I-n,,,ro.,
Congress- Attitude.
BY JUSTIN aIcGRAr,,


WASHINGTON. Nov. 4-soo
Of the Navy Daniels TO-DAY ,,n,,,.,
that the designations of nfty o,pco..
all graduates OF the Naval Ac,ho,
has been placed in his hands He alsn
admitted that tile navy has only no
900 enlisted men, while 10000 are re.
quired to properly man the Atlantic
and Pacific fleets
large number OF the saips of the
navy are alid up in the back channel
OF the Philadelphia yard because there
are no crews available for them. The
battleships Virginia and New Jersey,
now at Boston, are supposed to be
part or the Pacific fleet. but they arc
Icing held In Boston because they
nave crews of only 200 each. while
,h me proper complement of men Is
1000 each. The b,and-ncw destroy
eis' iae finest vessels of their tyne
also arc laid up at Boston.
Seeking other Employment.
secretary Daniels admitted that the
sI'ua''oh In the navy was bad owing
20 inc desire Of both enlisted men and
onccrs TO seek other employment and
op'aln better wages than they are
receiving IN tie service. He has not
acGcpied the designations OF the ffty
ance until he has made further effort
TO convince Congress that better pro
vision should DC made for both on
GERS and enlisted men.
Admiral Sims told the House com.
mittce that almost all OF tho enlisted
men who had any knowledge Of tie
mechanical trades Were leaving the
service because OF the insuniciencv O.,
the wage they were receiving TO meet
tho Increased cost OF living and be-
cause they easily could make four or
iNe times much in employment out
side the service
Can't Und-rstnnd ConEre.s.
Both officers OF the navy and tho
army who served abroad express
themselves as utterly unable to un-
congress and the trend Of public opin-
ion towards both branches Of the
service.
which demonstrated the national dan
ger and the cost!imcss In money and
lives ~ unpreparcdness. there secms
to be an inclination. both in and out
OF Congress, TO stint both branches OF
Tie service that VIII leav. the United
states litue better prepared to meet
sudden emergency than II was be-
fore the country's entrance into tho
world war.
/, seems to be quite certain now
nat 3i ConsIHss viii fayor General
600 rather than $4,000, as recon-
mcnded by Secretary Baker and tho
genera! STAFF. But while disposed TO
ACCEPT the recon mcndation OF Cen
ctal Pc7shinE for the lesser regular
force, II is extremely doubtful whcth-
e. Congress Viii adont General Per-
s.ninSs reconme ndat!on for universal
training. And unless this Is done. the
military establishment OF the United.
states Will! be put back On practically
the pre-war basis. "
BrItnin Spending LnrixhIy.
Although Great Britain owes the
although i, is reported in the cable
dispatches To be the Intention Of the
p Inss IT. pp,,isn Eovesnmeni to ask
mi,ted. Great Britain Is spending
money lavishiy on her feet and on
the Bri,!ah Meet is much better paid
than that OF the American navy.
A ivnn Sims. who Is president OF the
$4,000 year. and has to do his enter
tanning, out OF his own pocket. An
vice admiral. s23 900; rear-admi-al.
s:i,oeH; a commodore. $4,000. and, a
salary AN admiral OF n fleet gets 1000
year for entertaining.
Great Rr!tain is extending on her
amount which Congress has provi dcd
TOR aircraft.
Oncr Two Explanations.
Two explanations are offered o! the
indisposit'on OF Congress to make l.b-
eral appropriations for the military
and naval establishments: The hrst
pcan nations leaves the United States
in no danger OF attack from tina, quar-
ica. an" me second is that with the
league o! nations functioning there
viii he no danger Of the United States
having to meet any sudden attack
Granting that the league OF nations
Viii come into being. and that the
United States will he member. Off
GERS OF the navy and army who served
abroad are of the opinion that II still
would he fatal mistake for the United
states not to maintain powerful
navy and military esta blishment
sufficient to resist agcres sion and
capable OF being quickly expanded
into n great and efficient force. as
could be done through system OF
universal training.
In their view il Will be the nations
that VIII be hest prepared that Will
exert the greatest influence even
under the league of nations unless
there shall be general disarmament
TO which Great Britain and France
are opposed