The New York herald., 1922-05-14
DECLARES NAVY
IS BEING SKIMPED
Actually More Than $4,000
Enlisted Men Are Needed,
Says Expert.
COMPARED WITH BRITISH
America With Two Sea From
tiers Actually Is at Disad-
vantage Under Treaty.
By eraser scHoRNsTHErMER.

By eraser sCHORNsTHEIME
Special Dispatch to THE New YosK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c., May Is.
Secretary DENLY has admitted that
even the $4,000 men, advocated by him
as the minimum enlisted strength for
the navy, is insufficient to maintain our
treaty ratio of naval power. He says
II have recommended to Congress that
next year it (the navy consist of
105.0s7 officers midshipmen and men,
including $4,000 enlisted men. This
number does not strictly preserve a
5-5-3 personnel ratio. 1t falls short by
$500 of the British average, but II Is
close to the British minimum. 1T fails
short $4,000 officers and men OF the
Japanese minimum. Five-thirds OF
76, $40 is 12S,065.
THE pressing need for economy in
public expenditures. coupled with the
benefcent world effect of the Limitation
of Naval Armament Agreement, impelied
me to the decision that minimum OF
s6, 900 enlisted Strength would be suf-
ficient, provided the present authorized
strength OF officers was not disturbed
and the midshipmen were allowed 10
graduate without curtailment. The officer
personnel is the brain OF the navy. IT
takes ten years to make proper watch
and division officer"
This is precisely what the writer has
been claiming for many weeks. 1t shows
why the present House Bill for $4,000
men must be defeated in the Senate.
That part of the navy which we are to
retain cannot be manned in any state
of efficiency with less than $4,000 men.
With only $4,000 men, battleships,
cruisers and destroyers will have to oe
placed out of commission.
Parity with England.
A great deal has been said OF our
parity" with England: that we should
have a naval personnel equal to only
the strength of that nation. There are
many reasons why the United States
must have more men to maintain the
same ratio of sea power than the British.
In the British navy the terms OF en-
listment are twelve years. Our men en-
list for only four. 1t is plain from this
that the individual efficiency of the
British navy is much higher than our
own.
Then the British have but one COM
plete set of fleet bases upon which 10
base their~gra fleet. being entirely In
sular. while the United States, with It's
two great sea frontiers. must maintain
two complete sets Of bases. Then'
granting the material parity with Great
Britain, does it not seem that we need
a \ ore force half as large again as the
British. considering that we must main
tain these two sets of bases? And these
two sets are necessary for the mainte-
nance of the material parity, given US at
the arms conference.
So much has been said OF the reported
reductions in the British and Japanese
navies that the matter cannot be passed
over without a word of explanation. The
f3ritish are considering a reduction 10
the minimum suggested above in Secre-
tarv Denbys letter. Whether or not
Parliament will grant this reduction ~
entirely matter OF doubt. Speaking on
this very matter Lady Astor is quoted as
saving, "If we are TO have reduced
navy, it must be the best navy In the
world" II more Anne .icans would take
this attitude toward their own navy in
stead of the British we would not need
to worry.
Proposed Japanese Reduction.
The reported reduction in the Japa-
nese navy. under consideration in the
Diet. Is only of 5000 officers and men.
The Japanese intend to scrap nine old
hattleships under the terms OF the naval
treaty. However. they have number
of cruisers. destroyers and aircraft car
riers on the stocks, which Will soon pe
and so they contemplate only
a reduction for the old ships To be
scrapped. .,a
II is entirely doubtful whether this
reduction will be affected. Reports from
japan indicate that she intends 10
build more warships. The Mitsupish'
Kawasaki, Uraga, Asano. Yokohama'
Osaka, Fuginagata and lshikawaJina
companies are understood to be con-
sidering a plan for the pooling OF
interests in impending warship con-
tracts. to allot TO each yard con-
tracts proportionate to its capacity, ma
terial on hand. &c.
Japan as well as the United States
may build cruisers, aircraft carriers
flotilla leaders. destroyers. submarines
and auxiliaries. And Japan. differing
from the United States. Is going to
build them. These ships as do all
others, will need men for their compile
ments. And why should the Japanese
reduce their naval personnel. while
building new shipsE
The reduction bill has yet to pass
the Diet and become a law and 1t Is
do So May / suggest here that when
our Congressmen. like Kelley ana Mad
den. for instance. wish information on
foreign navies. they apply to our own
Office of Naval Intelligence, established
To obtain such information, instead OF
pedding around among the foreign En-
bassies and naval attaches? II is certain
that our naval officers may be de-
pended upon to give the correct IN
formation and that they will have no
other motive than the good OF their
country.
Administration of Islands.
There are certain duties undertaken
by our navy which congressman should
remember when voting on the navalap-
propriation. The navy has duties which
are not in the least military. but which
sap the life ou of the military organiza-
ton. The service administers the gov
ernment Of the Virgin Islands, Guam
and many other islands.
1t operates a great wireless conf
munication service. which is Invaluable
10 our merchants. Those OF you who
use this service relative to merchant
ship movements can estimate its vaiue