The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-09-27
DETERIORATION OF THE NAVY.

Although it is only few short weeks since the navy
was performing with traditional gaantry and efficiency
the tasks imposed upon it, the shrinkage of personnel
has progressed at fearful rate. 1t is not exaggcra
ton to that at this the Atlantic feet is
SHE'LL mpotent for war; chained to shore for lack
Of men. The Pacific feet was sent out only after de-
peting the Atlantic fleet; and the Pacific feet is
dangerously short of skilled in seamanshp and gun
merry.
As broad proposition the navy is incapable of
defending the shores of the United States much less of
crossing the in defense of the Union
Secretary Daniels returns from the Pacific coast where
the public exhibited praiseworthy patriotism in wecom-
ing the feet He finds his desk alarming number
of applications for resignation from officers whose lives
have been spent in the countrys service They dis
heartened utterly discouraged and with regret they
ask leave to quit the service which they love- They
not exist further the pay they receiving and their
private hardshp together with the rapid dsintegraton
of the navys efficiency, wearing down their spirits
These among the choicest products of American life.
They are thoroughly trained keeny alert and broadly
educated men, acquainted with the world and intensely
devoted to the United States Their training has made
patriotism their religion. They in living flesh the
United States navy. All its glorious traditions live to
be perpetuated by them. If they go the navy
to exist.
What is to be thought of the gratitude of nation
whose naval captains face the world with but the single
old fashioned uniform in which they stand with their
pockets empty and their families separated from them
for weary months for lack of few dollars These
the who warded off death from the millions of boys
who crossed the These naval officers actually
shielded the army with their bodies, and made pos
sble the victories of Foch and Pershing. eYt they
poverty -stricken and in humilating distress.
Many lieutenant commander is supervising the
work of mechanics who receive twice his pay He
ceives $40 for day of "a hours full of responsibility
while of the mechanics receive Is and more
for day of eight hours, with extra pay for overtime
some of them making much as $50 week. Perhaps
they it, in the cheap money that now prevails But
if they entitled to such pay their director technical
expert responsible for the work. should receive at least
as much.
The shipping board is milking the navy of its seamen
sign up for twice three times the pay with perqustes
that very attractive to them. Thus the country
seems to be building up skilled merchant Marine but
is merely doing at the expense of the navy and
case of war the false policy would be fully exposed
There are two batteshps at the Philadelphia yard,
one with 1876 aboard and the other with 1866 men.
There should be at least 1000 available for each
for the navy The recruits when there are any, are
sent right aboard ship where they dangerous they
useful At New London there are at least fifteen
brandnew Eagle boats dashed in hrees and without
takers, representing waste of millions At Newport
the entire orpedoboat otilla made up of the finest and
newest vessels in the world, are lying shorn of men,
utterly worthless for defense or ofense In case of
sudden call the Secretary of the Navy would be COM
PEELED to make known the fact that the United States
unable to send its opedoboats to sea- The destroyers
have on board only five EACH not sufficient to keen
down rust
The navy is preparing to build battle cruisers costing
about $4O,O0,OOO each They will be magnificent vessels
abreast of anything in Existence But they will not 90
to unless slightly older vessels costing saw ss5
900, EACH are stripped of and converted virtually
into huks in order to make up compliments for the new
ships
The arrangement and deterioration of the navy is here
menacing fact that cannot be eliminated by fervent
speeches estactc visions If the people wish to keen
their first line of defense unmpared if Congress wishes
to perform its duty of providing and maintaining navy
it is high time that the situation should be investigated
and nended,-Washngton Post.
NJ n WINE IN Nrw por1,