Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-15
EXPERTS SEE PERIL
IN PERSONNEL CUT
TO 100000 BASIS
Warn Nation That Eff
cheney of Fleet Is
Threatened.
FEAR ENORMOUS LOSS
THROUGH DETERIORATION
Vessels Costing Hundreds of
Millions Liable to Great
Depreciation.
TO PRESS FOR MORE MONEY
Increased appropriations Above
House Figures to BE Asked,
Notably for Aviation.
FEAR ENORMOUS LOSS
THROUGH DETERIORATION
TO PRESS FOR MORE MONEY
increased appropriations Above
House Figures to BE Asked,
Notably for Aviation.
nf JOHN GLEISSNER.
nitcd News star CorrcSpouico

WASHINGTON. Feb. I4-NavaI au-
thorities are preparing to go before
the Senate with n plea that the en-
listed strength OF the navy be in
creased to more than the 100000
maximum set by the House.
The appropriation bill for tho nayv.
which tn" lower chamber has lust
passed. provides funds for only that
number. The present strength OF the
navy is i43.000 men.
Increases in amounts authorized
by the House will be asked for other
things. notably aviation. The bill
carries SS95.oo0,O00. Estimates were
for s6T9,oGo.o0o
Naval experts will argue that the
reduction in personnel will force out
of commission modern vessels of war.
ana that the efficiency OF the fleet
will be seriously impaired They de-
clare the place for ships is at sea.
and point out that ships which have
been constructed Mt cost OF hun
dreds OF millions will seriously de-
tericratc through disusc. Smaller
craft, like destroyers, are said TO go
to pieces rapidly when not in opera
ton.
Too Few for Sea Duty.
Admiral Coontz. chief of operations,
is authority for the statement that
$4,000 men are required properly to
man the fleet. number which would
be available for actual sea duty with
Il strength OF $4,000. With the fig
ure al 100000 about 75,oO men would
be available for sea duty.
Two nrsI lin, ,rnnlpnnrht. 4, uo,l1
be among the ships forced into re-
serve These Are the backbone OF
the hec,.' There are now nineteen
of them. The number of Hrst-lna
dcstrcycrs ready TO put to sea would
be cut from LA to nincty-siX; crui-
scrs. from fifteen TO ten; minc-sweep-
ers, from forty-seven to thirty-nvc:
other mine ships. from twenty-four
TO twelve: fuel ships. from twenty
six 10 eighteen: transport and cargo
craft. from twenty-six to eighteen.
Auxiliary vessels OF one sort and
another would also be forced from
active duty.
The l3i submarines, many OF which
are now building, would all be kept
active. Naval experts were insstent
on this.
The bill does not appropriate amy
money for the construction OF air
planes. At the same time the Senate
has before II Il recommendation from
the Naval Affairs Committee that two
new airpianes carriers be built in
stead OF twelve dcstroyers and two
submarines previously authorized.
Thus the fleet may find itself with air
plane carriers. but no planes for them
to carry.
Borah Is Hostile.
The whole subject of aviation In
naval warfare has been the subject
OF protracted debate in the Senate.
senator Borah and others have
argued that the capital ship has been
made less useful through develop
ment OF aerial warfare; hence a
night in this direction is assured when
the appropriation comes before the
Senate Borah would suspend con
struction on some OF the capital ships
authorized in the 1916 building pro-
gram. for continuation of which the
House provided s9o,0oo.000.
Captain Craven, head OF the navy
air service. declared the amount au-
thoriaed for that branch is wholly
inadequate. The service asked for
$4,000, o0o. but got s6,ol3.43l
The reason the Appropriations Com
mittee did not provide new con-
struction is that il was considered
a legislative matter which properly
should come from the Committee on
Naval Affairs, So this latter body
has = bill which would provide ss.-
9li000 additional for aerial develop
ment. But the money is TO come
'out OF any moneys hereinafter made
available therefor" II Will be mecca
sary for the funds to be provided by
the Appropriations Committee. II the
House approves the Naval Commi,- Z.
tees bill.
II would be impossible, according
to Craven, IL both bills were allowed,
TO further the presnesa of what aess
said. IL the newest and most in,-.
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