Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-30
THE NAVY
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NV J dAIEN Elk the outcome
N/ of the proposed naval
holiday said one of
our distinguished adj
mirals. 'let US hope that America be
not caught like a player in game
of poker. who holds a bluffing hand
and plays it to the end, only to face
defeat and heavy loss by having its
weakness exposed when his blum is
called" In event of naval holt
day" Congress might during the in
terval appoint a committee of the
ablest naval officers in order to de-
termine a naval program in event
that international disarmament is not
more effective
In the present discussion now at is
sue, as to the policy of disseminating
the building of battleships in favor
of under or over sea craft, it is well
to remember that no demonstration
has yet proved the advisability of
scrapping the modern battleship..
The most valuable ideas. plans and
ing craft. unless proved by actual
combat" said an officer of high au-
thority. will not AFFECT the proven
efficiency Of our floating fort-the mod
ern battleShip.'
In the summary of a report of Rear
Admiral Henry T. Mayo. one of the
greatest authorities on naval war
fare, he says: THE unpreparedness
of our vessels and shortage of per-
sonnet in the world war was the re-
sultant effect of failure to prepare
against war" He further states that
the responsibility for the efficiency
of the Navy depends upon the appro-
priations granted by Congress.
money expended in building and
maintaining a Navy larger than re-
auired to enforce our foreign policies
is extravagance.' said the admiral.
'but the expenditure of less money
than required for a Navy strong
enough to enforce our foreign poll
quate preparations during peace
times causes the waste of millions
when war is eventually forced upon
us"
Regarding expenditures for the
Navy. Admiral Mayo emphasizes fur
Their that every dollar spent in prep
aration for war should be accom-
plished by definite plan: that maxi
mum efficiency cannot be obtained
unless the chief OF operations is CIV
en- power under the Secretary of the
Navy to exercise supervision over all
naval activities through the bureaus.
boards End Offices.
I'm my opinion" said the admiral.
.the faulty organization of the Navy
Department. and the absence of def
mite foreign policy. except that OF
strict neutrality, were the primary
causes Of failure to prepare the en-
tire Navy for war"
Personnel Increase Unlikely.
There is little prospect that the
naval SUBCOMMITTEE of the House ap-
Preparations committee will provide
for more than 100. 900 men for the
new fiscal year. Since the enlisted
strength reached 1856, 900 when re-
cruiting ceased, it is presumed that.
instead Of provision for recruits. the
problem will be for some months the
ehrinkage necessary to bring the
strength to as nearly the limit of the
new complement by July as is prac-
ticahle There being no recruits to
train, the logical course will be to
close some of the training stations.
The plan il to reduce the great lakes
station to the contemplated trade
schools which are maintained there;
the same thing will be true to
large extent at both Hampton roads
schools are also maintained. New
port is evidently slated for discon-
tinuance after July l. Recruits now
under instruction there and those
who will be received this winter will
have completed their training before
the beginning of the new fiscal year.
Should this idea prevail, and the
Senate approve of the economical
program Initiated by the House.
ated for at the training stations in
the coming fiscal year. other than
the trade schools at Hampton roads.
great lakes and San Francisco, with
possibly a limited amount OF recruit
training at HAMPTON roads