Evening star., 1921-04-17
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF NAVY
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Talks Enthusiastically of Purpose to Make
the Country Better Acquainted With
Its Fighting Ships.

per cent would be left, the other 40
per cent representing men in training
schools. on leave, etc. A personnel of
10000 men would give less than 100, 900
men actually at work. A parallel for
this can be given by any infantry Of
strength of $50 men it is rare to go into
fight with more than $50 men,"
Col Roosevelt then discussed the need
OF educating the public as to the peace
the operation of wireless communica-
tons, weather bureau work and the
protection given citizens against dis
orders in various parts Of the world as
some of the important peace functions
of the Navy.
Here we were interrupted again by a
call from an old friend Of his father.
The assistant secretary bounded
across thte room and grasped his
hands warmly. Il am going to be
with the fleet in ten days" he con-
fided with the enthusiasm of a school
boy. 1T will be great sport" AS he
showed the friend out it was with
a Come back, come back, any time:
the latchstring is always out"
colonel has inherited from his father
the knack of getting rid of visitors
quickly. but always in a manner to
make them feel they have been en-
tertained royalty.
=
When our conversation was resumed
Col. Roosevelt paid his respects to
those who think the air force or any
other force can put the Navy out OF
business.
''At this moment. as at all times"
he said. there are many well mean
ing persons who are proposing i'm
possible things for the Navy. There
are those who wish to abolish cap
ital ships and substitute therefor an
air force. The air service is essen
opinion will remain exactly that.
There always have been in every
country elements who believe that
some new invention spells death Of
either the infantry in the army or the
capital ship in the navy. But both
remain and will remain. There was a
time when the machine gun was sup
posed to have eliminated the infantry
and the Whitehead torpedo and the
pitz now says his only regret was he
did not devote more time to building
cauital ships.
II do not mean the airship is not
of the greatest Importance. But we
ments Of enthusiasts-especiall as
to the cost Of construction. An air
ship wears out in<two years; a bat
tleship in fifteen. Therefore. the cost
OF building an airship should be
multiplied by seven.
THE people must be given facts to
deal with and not fancies.''
During our conversation Col.
Roosevelt did not hesitate for a word
or pause in a sentence. He spoke
rapidly and to the point. He spoke
with the vigorous mannerisms for
which his father was famed. and 1t
was plain that they were natural and
not affected personalities.
Whatever may be the length of his
stay in public life, Col. Roosevelt's
first month in office has convinced
every one with whom he has come in
contact that he will succeeded. not
because he is the son Of an immortal
former President OF the United
States. but because he has inherited
in rich measure many Of his fathers
qualities and characteristics.
And IL see him again and he likes
this story, l. viii be surprised II he
does not slap me % tpe back and
call u "bully."
stSo. s!.ht. 1921. by The he'washilGtOa xtaEA