The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-09-21


wrote to President Roosevelt-in Mo-
vember, 1901--has been frequently re-
ferred to in newspaper sketches of the
Admiral's career; as the text itself has
. never been published, however, it's
reproduction in this place has an his
torical value
II beg that may be pardoned for
the liberty l take in addressing you
a personal letter; and my only excuse
for so doing is the vital Importance
of the subject that l wish to bring
20 your attention. namely, the extreme
danger OF the present very inefficient
condition of the navy, considered
a fighting force.
You will doubtless recall that in
1897, when you We're assistant secre-
tary of the navy, you initiated GER
tain reforms in naval target practice
as result of information obtained
from the naval attache abroad con-
corning the progress in marksman-
ship In foreign navies. The Spanish
war interrupted these reforms, and
no progress whatever has been made
since.
II have within the past few months
submitted to the navy department
number of reports of foreign target
practice and on other matters in con-
nection with the fighting efficiency of
our vessels: and. after as exhaustive
IA study of these subjects as my OPP
portunities would afford, I have, in
the last of these reports. been forced
TO the very serious conclusion that the
protection and armament of even our
most recent battleships are so glar-
ingly inferior in principle as well as
in details. to those of our possible enc
mics. and that our craftsmanship is
- -.
one or more of our ships evitably suf-
fer humiliating defeat at the hands
of equal numbers of our enemy's yes
sells of the same class and displace-
ment.
II fully realize the extreme gravity
OF this statement; but ii is the result
Of a long and conscientious study of
the subject: and / am convinced that
it is the plain truth; and this opinion
A. held by all the naval officers OF my
acquaintance who have seriously con-
sidered the subjects treated in the re-
ports above indicated.
The commander in chief of the
naval force on the Asiatic station
Rear Admiral Remey. in forwarding
my last report to The secretary of the
navy. states that he fully agrees with
the conclusions therein given, and that
he considers our present situation ex-
tremely critical
In this report 1 have set forth as
clearly as possible the reasons in sup
port of the above statement which
reasons are principally based on in
formation acquired during period OF
three years as naval attache to our
embassies at Paris and St Petersburg,
and one year on this station. where
| have had opportunities of becoming
ssSr,
of the most recent foreign vessels.
1T would have been my duty to have
made these comparisons, between our
vessels and those of other nations
while / was occupying the position of
attache, but l was unable to do so
at that time L was not then ac-
quainted with the details of the con-
struction of our latest vessels.
That my criticisms are. however.
not exaggerated is unfortunately but
too completely demonstrated by a
recent special target practice I'm the
North Atlantic squadron which shows
much greater inefficiency in marks
manship than / have reported or than
7 could have imagined possible. Five
ships each fired during five minutes
at a hulk at a range of about $500
yards and made a total of two hits
The hulk was afterward sunk at close
range.
II am aware of the irregularity of
thus addressing you personally; but
Athe danger of the false impression.
Mat Is universal throughout the Unit
~ States concerning the efficiency
OIL the navy, appears to me great,
ahN the need of prompt and radical
retem therefore so extremely urgent
thatt hope 1 may not be considered
as oNrstepping the bounds of propri-
ely az inviting your personal atten-
ton g the papers indicated in the
enciosee memorandum particularly
the iasrreport which with Admiral
Remeys etter of ransmittal is now
on file iiithe office of the honorable
secretary the navy.
am, Sir
Nry respectfully,
GU. obedient servant.
tSisheo1 VIM. s. SIMS,
Lieutenant, Il. s. ~"
Get rne all hose reports was Pres
ident Roosevess command as soon as
he had finished reading this aauacious