The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-25
Ships Without Men Are Useless
Situation in the Navy Which Demands Immediate Action

Il IN
Chairman Butler of the Naval Committee speaking to
the the naval appropriation BILL declared that In
the years the United States Twill put out the most
powerful armada the world has produced in
similar period"
The increase naval power to such extent that
shall rank first among the worlds nations on the sea is
desirable and necessary thing.
But while building ships what provisions are
being made to and operate them?
Exclusive of Marines the complement OF enlisted men
in the navy is in round numbers, 10000.
On March Is the actual number Of enlisted men was
only shortage Of 68S7S or more than ~ per cent
The number of enlisted men necessary to man sea-
, gong vessels is $685.
The actual number of these ships is only
86111 shortage of 4O854, just under 40 per cent
This shortage of going ships not OF deck
hands but of skilled men, mechanics trained to their work.
without whose services the successful and efficient operation
Of the ships is next to impossible
The attempts of the department to recruit the needed
trained forces from civilian life has been an almost com
plete failure.
How greatly the navy is hampered by lack of men is
shown by the fact that of 1O4 destoyers that should be
ready for seventy are tied up at docks because
there to operate them and OF the thirty
which in operation nearly all are running with
reduced force of men.
In the submarine fotia each skilled whose enlist
ent expires before October asked to make state
ment to his intentions for re-enlistment
Only men reported that they would continue IN
service after their present term expired.
The reason for this discomfort in the navy and the
mpossbity of keeping the forces to even minimum
requirements is that the Of enlisted man, with no
limit the hours he must work. only fraction OF what
he command in civilian Ife with limited hours and
overtime at extra rates.
The highest skilled mechanics receive on their
first enlistment minimum wage of SCI month and q
maximum of $685. this latter including extra pay
After twenty years service he may reach maximum Of
500 month.
Here are the requirements of man who enllsts as
chief machinist's mate, one Of the ss3 places:
He must be competent lathe operator. He must be
able stand watch and take complete charge
of the engine room He be competent overhaul
engine and do the repair work and must be able to
charge of and direct the work of force Of men.
Such workman ashore would be able to assume the
duties of foreman in big shop.
Even if he worked at only of the tasks he is given
shpboard and without any directing responsibilities he
would at least Sc day. and very likely more not in
GLIDING extra for overtime.
He invited sign up in the navy for not less than
two years at $276 day. What chance has the navy OF
getting his services?
None certainly if there is any work ashore. None
he married has any dependents None he is competent
do what be done if the ships to be efficiently
manned.
The case above cited is of one of the highest grade
highest paid enlistmen From his standard the pay grades
down until the nonrated get low $3.50 month
hardly more than a dollar day.
The result of this insufficient wage scale is that not
only vacancies made by enlistment exprons remain
ing untitled but there is constant depletion of forces by
desertion.
During the month of January this year, two hundred
petty officers deserted and the figures for the months since
then are believed to have been increasingly large
The assertions in 1919 totaled 9537 and had risen to
thousand month when the year ended This is at the rate
of IL per of the entire enlisted force every month
The only remedy for this alarming situaton-a disas
trous condition any serious trouble should suddenly de
velop-is increase in the rsy of the enlisted forces
In time of may be conscrpted and made tt
work for what the Government chooses to pay
In time of peace the workman naturally and rightly
he pet He will or