New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-01-07
" OF Missouri at that time made the

these nations would not spend In a sec
Ond year twice the saving of n year
Is This a Foolish Suggestion?
So far as the matter of its beinl
Just as well for the nations to b,
equally weak as equally strong is con
cerned, the only reason for the build
ing of battleships by any n country
is thai 1t may keep pace in naval con
struction with the other powers. Nc
one country wants another country t6
get ahead of II lest If war should come
humiliation for the weaker sea power
should come with il.
SO II has been suggested, perhaps
idly, but nevertheless with enough
seriousness to cause some reflection,
that all the nations should 90 back
to the wooden ships and smooth-bore
guns which cost so little. If no coun-
try had anything but ships of oak and
cannon of ordinary iron. all fleets, save
of course for a preponderance of num-
bers in some cases, would be equal
when meeting broadside TO broadslde.
1t has been asked why equal weakness
wouldn't serve the same purpose ns
equal strength. The battle would go,
50 the argument runs, as nearly always
1t must 20 if luck be eliminated, 10 the
more skillful %belligerent.
Now all this may seem utterly fool
ish. and probably it is so, for no nation
is likely to 90 back to the days Of the
Constitutions, the Temeraires and the
Victories, but in a way the proposal
points out the position which some
men take on the whole disarmament
question.
An oldtime frlgate, like the COnsti.
tuition, did not cost more than 100000
or 100000. A modern battleship costs
anywhere from 100000 TO $4,000
600.
America Should Honor This Hero.
The United States government on
occasion has given marks of It's official
regard to officials of other countries.
1t was only the other day that Gen
eral Neville, the great French soldier,
was decorated with the Distinguished
Service medal of the United States.
Others have likewise been honored.
There are many men In minor places
which have gone u~nrecognized. IL
all the gallant things that We're done
In the last war were known and prop
erly rewarded, there would not be
Distinguished Service medals nor Dis
Service crosses enough to
go around. Captains, %lieutenants and
priyates performed great individual
deeds on the battlefelds which were
unseen. These men had nothing but
W satisfaction Of service well
done for a reward.
The Medal Of Honor, which Is the
decoration the United States
government gives, can be given only
to those who have done something be-
yond the call Of duty and which IL
they had not done would not submit
them 10 criticism. The Medal Of Honor
IAN be given, however, only for IN act
that has been attestcd by several wit.
l'NN'Ts ~ II - NhA hA'h Wv hhf'
lone things when witnesses were not
present, or when witnesses did not
fully realize all that was being done.
deserved the medal but never
have received II.
Lieutenant craven's Gallant Deed.
A newspaper man who is a close
friend has told me the story of Lieu
.enant Craven Of the British naval
who performed a most glorious
Iced in the storm-swept waters off
when the destroyer of which
10 was I'm command. the Mounsey, was
part Of a convoy which had In charge
large number of ships carrying
american troops and civilians.
My newspaper friend was on one Of
he vessels. The storm was so ter
life that everything loose on all ships
lad been carried away. Nobody ex-
to see the land. The vessels
almost helpless in the driving
All at once one OF the trans
,orts. the Otronto, RAJ on a rock. The
were beating on her grindingly, |
nd Il seemed virtually impossible that
ny help could reach her. Lieutenant
In command of the Mounsey,
nth the spirit Of old '~Ill-try-Slr NIL
mnde up his mind to do what he
Guild. -Four times he brought his de-
troyer alongside the Otronto. only TO
ave her grind away again. Once
lore he came alongside. 4 wave
the Otronto and she fouled
nth the Mounsey. tearing a great hole
n the stern Of the destroyer. Tie
ailors instantly went over the side
nth canvas 4 stop the thrush Of the
Lieutenant Craven in that awful sea
nally managed "a hold his destroyer
longside the transport and rescued
90 American soldiers who Jumped to
Mounsey's deck. II was one Of
most heroic deeds inOwn TO sea
-arfare. Five hundred Americans lost
heir lives, but II II had not been for
he high courage OF this lieutenant Of
be British navy the number would
ave been 200. Craven's deed should
e remembered. and seemingly the
'nited States should do the remem-
Old Habits