New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-10
Navy Menaced
By Desertions,
Says Admiral
Entire Service Threatened
With Disaster Unless Men
Are Given Pay Increase,
Washington Tells Senators
700 Desert Each Month
Comprehensive War Plan
Drafted Before L. S. En-
tered, Declares Fletcher

WASHINGTON, April 9.-Thousands
Of desertions in the navy in the last
year have brought conditions unpar-
alleled in American naval history, Rear
Admiral Thomas Washington, chief
of the Bureau of Navigation, to-day
told the Senate investigating COM
mittee. The whole naval service, he
warned, is threatened with disaster un-
less Congress Immediately enacts
legislation raising the pay of officers
and men to a point that will allow the
navy to compete with civil occupations.
There were 1856 assertions in the
last six months of 1919. Rear Admiral
Washington declared, and thus far this
year they have averaged 700 a month.
Many of the deserters were petty Of
ficers of several years experience, he
added. Also at present rates of pay,
he SAID, recruits cannot be obtained.
Rear Admiral S. f. Fletcher, men,
Der OF the Navy General Board, disa-
greed with charges made by Rear Adj
miral Sims that the navy was unpre-
pared for war and had no we'll defined
plans or policies. He asserted that
two years before the United States
joined the Allies a complete plan for
war against Central European
power was prepared and kept up to
date throughout hostilities.
Plan Covered Every Phase
Many such plans had been made in
the past, Admiral Fletcher said. but
the plan referred to covered every
phase OF naval operations under the
assumed conditions of war" 1t dealt
with the mobilization, organization and
composition Of the fleet, it's disposition
ana employment, protection of the
coasts 9 and the bases of supplies on the
united States coasts and in the West
ilhdies, routes across the Atlantic and
me enemy's forces and probable
courses of action, he said. and com
pr'sga nearly 800 typewriter pages.
-, A4mlral FIetcker was a member of
was engaged for the greater part with
ms duties as member of the War IN
duStrles Board, the Priorities Board
and the Council of National Defense.
EEplalnlng that he wished to com
ment on certain specific charges made
by admiral Sims before testifvinr re-
gardIng his duties as member of
these various boards, the witness first
TOOK up Slms's criticism that the nav
was not prepared for the war in
1ApilI, lJI {.
No navy ever was or ever will be
fully prepared for war in the ewes Of
every one, the admiral declared hut
me American Navy when it entered the
war wa was lust as we'll prepared as anv
o'her navy in the world when the great
war burst FORTH" he asserted.
Replies TO Sims's Criticism
\ Admiral Sims's declaration that tho
Navy Department should have im-
mediateiy sent all available destrovors
and small craft abroad to fight SUBJ
MARINES sounded Plausible and CON
Vlnclng, the witness said, but such a
course O. action would have left the
american coasts and ports full of in
Valuable vessels and cargoes omen to at-
TACK by German submarines that had
demonstrated in 1916 their ability to
cross the ocean, menace the United
states coast and return to Germany.
uha'dcd Such an attack, he asserted
would have caused great alarm in this
country and have prevented sending
any small vessels to the war zone
Admiral Fletcher characterized ths
work OF the War Industries Board as
one OF the great achievements of tho
war, and declared the members OF The
BOARD compllmentcd highly the cf
hclcncy with which the Navy Deuart
ment conducted the business end Of IFS
participation IN the war