The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-11-06
DECAY OF THE NAVY.


been absurd year ago. when the navy was adding ffe'
aurels to glorious record; but it is pertinent nov"
when gallant officers resigning and the ota""-"e
ships are unable to keep the sea-
Eiftv officers all graduates of the Naval Academy
have lust resigned These are highly ednc''eu sp'
calists thoroughly trained for the purpose oil mann W.
inc the navy at the high standard it has at'a'he" ie
thew cannot live on the pay they have been receVls'
AID ~ tho expiraon of the eight years service required
ho thov are compelled to abandon the career Of their
choice and seek livelihood in private employment Inc
money expended on their education and training
awav and worse for time well as money requ'reO
to replace such experts.
!. Ahout 600 officers of the navy would like TO resign
and begin to make decent income but tneS nave WIN
hold their designations pending the decisions OF 'he So
ton hoard as they do not to run the FISK Oh HAVING
h standing or records impaired so long as they are
- +ho so,v;co Thew have ben facing dire ALTERNATIVE
than, r. test that no self-respecting and IN
,strous servant of the government should be compee"
10 suffer They will soon be forced to feSe" 'oii'
= NAV unless their pay is increased II heS can ''"'N
with clean records and without reduction OF gr"oe' ''i'
well; but they will leave anyhow
The er,istod men are almost invariably quituhg "'
navy as their terms of enlistment expire Inc "''i
arc quite insufficient fill the gaps caused ny WHY
, danarnres The seamen of the navy are me Spe'''
" bib the country cannot afford to lose; but 'neS'
u no +be officers are forced out by insufficient pay
While the navy's personnel is thus disintegranng Inc
AZ hips arc necessarily rendered menecV'e' i"' '
channel at Philadelphia navy yard is 1oreS' u moo
# vessels laid up because there are no crews inc o"'
bins Virginia and New ersey, now at Boston, are sup
oosed to be attached the Pacific heet' ou' no" 20"
bev 90 to the Pacific when they have only |oo e" cav
whore there should be 1000 men? The Dranuhe" u'
trovars the finest of their type that are now afoa'' ar
aid up at Boston .
e IN the meantime certain other governments are
no +hr naval strength and improving their naval ell
.iocv Great Britain does not permit her navy " "
e for lack Of men, She has increased naval pay IN oroe
Ia hold fast to the service those wonderfully trained o
GERS and men who are the heart and soul OF Dri''"
e0 mperal power Although the government Is Sasse''
under heavy indebtedness, it takes pans 10 pfo'ue ~
the fpture security of the British empire 1t "ach'
Of L rova, construction of other nations and makes &c
ain that the British fleet shall remain twice as Stror
L.. Is the two best foreign haNea'
Iapan is going forward rapidly in naval power ar
efficiency The Asiatc empire is rich and us amO'''
is kindled by gitterng opportunities for eApal'Sio"
China and Siberia. The military spirit Is strong III
rowing stronger Japan's annual increase OF popu'a
is about 100000 while the density Of population II
.oocbod the saturaton point Expansion is necessl'
Naval mower is co1olary of successful expansion WI
in craftsmanship and skill that command admrauoh Jap
ch is planning for stronger place in the world one Has
naval personnel of singular ability and Devotion "
,l Lous how manv submarines have been constructed
an Japan? Who knows what tests of seamanshp ana gu
merry are being made for the purpose of placing Japa
navy proudly at the head of the worlds fleets!
the The vacaton of the present Secretary of the Ma
oxi is notorious factor in naval degeneration he beg
by demanding from Congress grotesquey excessive &C
.truction plan and then without rhyme or reason,
heir epudated those plans and refused to favor even MI
ope crate and necessary From the date OF the N
ing of the a1mstce he has nterferred with ana nu'l
the efforts of the general board and the flag officers
ch. e , infant rron keeping the navy up TO reasona
long standard.
Let Congress look into this question let 1t send
the higher officers of the United States navy and
nant plain questions them Let it inquire why the Sec
eady ary of the Navy permitting the fleet to deteor
Notwithstanding the fact that the navy is the first
of national defense.--Washngton Post.
Sun "
Evidence displays itself that bone-dry in Congr
there are no ouitters contemplate otherwise.