The Pensacola journal., 1920-04-17
Says 1t Is Not Only an Efficient
Fighting Machine But q
Great Training School.
AVIATION DOES MUCH
Secretary Pays High Compli-
ment to Naval Officers For
Their Diplomatic Ability
(By Josephus Daniels, Secretary OF
the Navy).

the Navy.
(By Permission of The independently,
The United States is ccusxomed
! to thinking of it's navy as a fighting
organization And it is-perhaps the
| most efficient fighting organization in
the world today National defense is
the main purpose of its existence, but
the navy is very much more than a
powerful fighting machine. The by
products of its preparation 20 fight
have contributed in the past and will
contribute in the future in an even
greater measure to the peaceful pro-
gress not only of the United States
but of the entire world.
In the life of this nation there has
been, on average, one war in every
twenty nine years. II the navy in the
twenty six years of peace-for a war
usually lasts three years-had oc-
cupied itself only with getting ready
and keeping ready to fight, the feeling
of safety it afforded would be worth
many times what IL cost.
But the American navy in the inter-
walls of peace has not concerned itself
merely with practice and drill and
maneuvers. 1t has demonstrated in
many ways its necessity as a peace
+, time institution. In its contribution
| to the spread of knowledge. the chart
| ing of the seas. the discovery of new
lands, the extension of commerce by
opening new doors to peoples hitherto
unknown. the cutting down of the
time required for ocean voyages. the
cheapening of ocean traffic, the pion-
eer work of securing victories by di-
plornacy, the aid it has given in feed
ling starving peoples-in these and
lmany other ways the American navy
fhas been the pathfinder and the world
is its debtor.
Just as in the construction of man
of-war there is required the work OF
more trades than in any other kind
of construction, the navy in its
organization. utilizes a greater number
of the sciences and arts than any other
organization of its kind ever known
/ to the world.
The science of navigation, a special
branch of the astronomical science, is
practieed on every ship that sails the
seas. For accurate navigation there
| are required correct tables of the po-
sition of the stars at all times, chron-
ometers for determining the correct
time compasses for telling direction
and instruments for observing the
/ heavenly bodies.
| In the navy everything having to do
with navigation is concentrated at the
Naval Observato tory at Washington,
which checks and corrects chrono-
meteres, and studies compass prob
i lens and naval instruments generally.
The Observatory publishes the Nauti-
/ cal Almanac which like the charts
and manuals devised by the Hydro
gra phic office of the navy. are used
| by mariners throughout the world.
The Naval War College. founded
| primarily for the study of problems
of modern warfare" is one of the few
| institutions in the United States In
which close study is given to the SCI
ence and problems of international law
| 1t falls TO naval officers more than to
any other group of our citizens to ap-
ply the rules and principles OF this
science and they are among the lead
| ing authorities on the subject in the
United States.
Everyone knows of the pioneer work
| in aviation done by the navy when
the Nc planes first successfully
crossed the Atlantic. Up to the pres
ent they have been the largest boats
of their kind in existence, weighing
loaded more than 10000 pounds.
Today the navy department is build
ing a dirigible in this country for the
purpose of beginning rigid program
and a contract has been made for
arrive in this country in the spring
| of 1921 These two vessels viii be the
American pioneers Of their class Their
activities will be limited, however, BY
the lack of hangar facilities now ex-
listing, and unless Congress sees fis
to extend these activities, the oper-
ations of these craft must be limited
! to areas on the east coast.
The navy is frequently called upon
10 utilize its aircraft to search Tor ves-
sells overdue or delayed in coastal voy-
ages.
| The navy has been requested to iend
Assistance in the northwest in patrol
ling the national forests in search or
forest fires and in the Sacramento
VALLEY for the purpose of observing
rising waters during the flood season
Up TO the present. however. the navy
has not been able to give sucn as
Isistance because of the shortage OF
funds and personnel
This partial summary of the work OF
1.-THE navy department in time OF peace
would not be complete without some
mention Of the Experimental Modei