Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-06-06
U, s, WARNED OF
PERIL FROM SEA
Navy Holds All Men to Meet
Crisis, House Committee
Is Told.
navy Chief BEFORE BOD
Tells Members That at Least Sixteen
First-CIass BattIeships Should Be
Kept in Comn.ission-Daniels
Presents General Report.

Washington, May 30.-Rear Admiral
Mexican, acting chief of naval opera
tions, told the house naval committee
the navy dare not return any more
men to civilian life at present.
1--WE are keeping the men because
we have to-" the admiral said. I'VE
dare not let the navy drop down to
state of unpreparedness. If we did,
anyone could come along and bump
US off
81 do not see where we can go any
further than we have. Two-thirds Of
our fighting ships have been placed In
reserve, but the battleships and Ge-
stroyers we must keep. We should
not even be aiding the army in bring
ing back our soldiers from Europe"
"Is not that of the greatest impor-
tance at this timeY Representative
Hicks of New York asked.
"Our duty is higher than bringing
the men back" Admiral Mexican said.
"Our duty is to guard the country
from danger. 1t is almost sacrilege
to use our ships for transports"
what is the danger you fear"
asked Mr.. Hicks.
81 don't know but we must be pre-
pared tof face it."
Admiral Mexican told the committee
that not less than sixteen f1rst-class
battleships with a total complement
of 20,886 men, would be kept in COM
mission as a peace-time force.
He said fewer men were used on
British ships than on American craft
of the same type, due partly to the
fact Great Britain has more men
trained to the work and partly to the
fact the British term Of enlistment Is
longer.
81 want to say, though." the admiral
added, 'that the British are not a
whit more efficient than our men. AS
a whole 1 believe our men stack up
better, taking everything into consid-
Grafton. This is proven in part by
the fact the British navy is pattern
ing itself in many ways after ours"
The cost to the United States of
each man in the navy averages $1,000
a year, the witness said.
1t was disclosed that unanimous de-
cision had been reached by the naval
general board and leading officers of
the navy who were in command over
seas during the war to continue con-
struction of battleships and battle
cruisers rather than to adopt COM
posite ship embodying the essentials
of the two types.
The general boards report was pre-
sented by Secretary Daniels. 1t urged
that the ten battleships and six battle
cruisers, authorized in 1916. me COM
pleted as expeditiously as possible
with changes in the battle cruisers to
afford greater protection at the cost
of a slight reduction in the designed
speed of 35 knots.
Decision of the board was reached
after hearing the views of Rear Ad
mirals Taylor, Earle and Griffin. chief
technical advisers to Secretary Dan.
iels, who accompanied the secretary
on the recent trip to Europe.
The officers discussed ship con
struction with admiralty officials In
Great Britain, France and Italy and
evidently found little favor there fol
the composite ship such as Great Brit
ain built during the war.
Work on the six battle cruisers was
suspended by Secretary Daniels pend
ing his trip, but it is understood Il
will be resumed with view to com
pleting the vessels as soon as posi-
BILE The American navy is now with
out any ship Of this class.