The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-02

70 tne average person than cOnSLruc
 In the first place, the navy has ob- tained greater instructive publicity throughout the country during MT. Daniels administration than it has ever enjoyed before. The navy has never before been so popular among the masses as at the present time remember soon after Mir. Daniels had entered the cabinet newspaper re- porters and moving picture operators were given permission to accompany the fleet on cruises and at target practice. At one time l was in com mand of the U. s. S. Worden, op- erating as dispatch boat with the fleet at target practice off the south ern drill grounds, and received orders to proceed to Hampton Roads to take on passengers for the fleet When 1 arrived for the passengers found five newspaper men and two moving picture operators who had special permission from the Secretary of the Navy to report to the commander in chief on board his flagship as guests of the navy.
 PUBLICITY VALUE
 During that practice the navy tried experimental firing, which was exten- sively advertised throughout the country. MT. Daniels experience in the newspaper business enabled him to understand the importance of pub hcity, and he was not long in learn ing how ignorant the American peo- pie were on naval affairs. Naval of ficers, as a rule, so afraid that some military secret will be published, that newspaper reporters were seldom permitted on board naval vessels.
 l can't remember single important naval bill which was defeated during MT. Daniels time in office. Officers at the navy department have said that he was the best politician the navy has ever had. Congressman were always made to feel at home in the navy department, no matter how triival the subject in which they were interested; they were sure to obtain the information or action desired. y The appropriations were not reduced so much as in previous years and many forms of legislation of signal importance to the navy, which had been agitated for several years, was passed. Among these may be men toned the establishment of the office of chief of naval operations, ln- creased pay for the navy, establish ment of the naval reserve force, and the new navy administration building
 CONSTRUCTIVE ORDERS
 Some Of the constructive orders which might be said to have orig mated directly with the Secretary of the Navy may be mentioned the or der (No. 96) abolishing booze on the ships. There is no doubt now that this order had much to do with the efficient condition of the navy per sonnel when war was declared few years later
 The most important order affecting the enlisted personnel was probably General Order No. 110, which stand ardized punishments for all ordinary military offenses, so that a punish ment did not depend so much on the personnel composing the court-mar- tial
 GREATEST MOVE
 Perhaps the greatest single movement, and the one for which he was the most severely criticized, was the one establishing schools aboard ship. Officers did not think they could afford to spend the time necessary for instructing the different classes, but when the system got to working most all ships ran over the allotted period for school work. This was due to the fact that officers would be- come interested in the subject un- der discussion and wished to fin- ish the topic before dismissing the class. Also the interest of the men was usually displayed in the form of questions and requests for extension at the end of the school period. It was predicted, when the system was first started. that not 10 men would take an interest in the school work, and yet, when the compulsory system was abol- ished, and the schooling was made voluntary, more than 70 per cent of the ships companies continued school work.
 It is impossible to estimate the great increase in efficiency this has produced in the fleet. It was a
 
 young men who could hardly write their names, and who had never been to school, in few months time work problems in high school fashion. Their minds were quick and well developed, but they had not had the opportunity to go to school.
 START IN LIFE
 Many of these young men have now left the service and hold good positions in civil life, and will. all ways respond in case of national emergency. Take, as an example. just one ship to illustrate the num- ber of subjects taught and the percentage of ships companies taking the various courses. The following tabulation indicates the number of men taking the various courses on the United States steamship Rochester:
 Headlng 4t Writing fl Arithmetic 131 English (simple) ,...... 55 English (grammar) .... ...... 6 English composition and lit-
 erdture History of English literature HiStOry Civics International law 9 French 10 spanish ...... Is SaleSu1anShip