The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-22
LACK OF MEN MAY
/. CRIPPLE Us NAVY
Admiral Robertson Says Re-
cruits Only Will Prevent
= Laying Off Destroyers.
RALLY BRINGS IN 81 MEN
Drive for Sailors Will Con.
tinuc Here as Long as the
? Fleet Is in Port.

The danger Of the Navy Department
being forced to lay of many destroyers
unless means are devised of keeping
up the enlisted personnel was pointed
out yesterday by Rear Admiral A. II.
Robertson, commander of the second de-
sstroyer squadron of the fleet now visit
ing this city.
Interviewed in tho cabin of the
cruiser Columbia, his flagship. Admiral
Robertson said that much depends
upon the result of the great recruiting
drive now being conducted by officers
Of the visiting fleet
THE number OF men on the destroy
srs that are now seeking discharge"
he said, lis very large. "They enlisted
for the duration of the war only and
must quickly be replaced II the boats
are to be kept in commission. To let
them all go at once would be to force
the temporary abandonment of many
of the smaller boats. l have made in
puiries as to what the effect would be
and l find that one destroyer would
have only eight men left. The usual
complement of such a ship Is more than
one hundred.
Fifty-four destroyers are In Admiral
Robertson's squadron, with about an
equal number in the first destroyer
squadron under Rear Admiral c. p.
P1unkett who Is Admiral Robertson's
senior officer.
Getting Ready for Air Flight.
These destroyers and their hagships
are making ready for the navy's pro-
posed transatlantic air flight. as the
commanders expect the small craft to
be assigned to patrol the sea route
OF the planes. Their personnel prob
ably will not suffer any serious reduc-
tion until after this event. The problem
OF getting men for these small boats
has always been a source OF great worry
to naval heads.
stripped OF our wartime volunteers"
the Admiral said. I'VE would have
barely enough men to take care of the
property on the boats. To continue
them in active service would be impos-
sibie."
Strenuous efforts to replace the dis
charged men are being made. and yes
terday was held the first OF a series of
recruiting rallies that officers Of the fleet
have planned to hold ashore.
A band Of twenty-five pieces and
score OF seamen from the battleship
Pennsylvania, flagship Of the great fleet.
journeyed at noon to the wooden ship
Recruit In Union Square. where a plea
was made to 1000 civilians to don the
blue.
big Biz Edwards, Collector of In
ternal Revenue, told the crowd how he
had coached the naval students at foot
ball, and explained some advantages of
a good sea training. Lew Graham, the
famous circus figure backed up the plea
with one of his own. Chief Yeoman
Edna Joyce appealed with her voice as
she has been doing at other recruiting
concerts. and Miss Alice Maude Poole
contributed some vocal selections.
Meeting Obtains 81 Recruits.
When this meeting ended ffty-four
listeners presented themselves for physi-
cal examination. Fifteen were passed at
once and were taken UP town by Lieuts.
Wells Hawks and NJ. F. Tracey In or
der that they might visit the big ship
before signing for service.
A similar rally was held at Times
Square by men from the battleship
North Dakota. under command of Lieut..
Williams. All OF the ships will have
their turn at this sort OF appeal. and
meetings will be held at the same points
daily as long as the fleet remains in the
North River. At the CONCLUSION of the
visit Admiral Mayo will award a trophy
20 the ship showing the best results.
Needs of the big ships. X was ex-
planned. are not SO pressing as are those
of the smaller craft The battleships
need about one hundred recruits each
The destroyer squadrons will have to
put forth the most strenuous efforts, and
will make their own direct appeal with
= in few days. Although as interesting
as the larger ships, these craft seem to
attract few visitors by comparison, and
officers are trying to devise ways OF
focusing public attention more directly
upon the destroyer service.