New-York tribune., 1922-03-19

tion and administration. IN cutting
Gown the personnel Of the navy is it
not just, IS it not clear TO the iayman.
shat the clements that contribute least
TO battle efficiency, whose duties arc
subordinate, comparatively unimpor-
tant and require little training, shall
be cat first? And is It not plain that
the clements that arc absolutely es-
seA.ial N ran-of-war- the officers
and men who command and direct in
battle and who must be trained for
months and years for this duty-shau
be cut last? IN othcr words, common
sense dictates chat tho cutting shall be
determined BY considerations that gov
ern in war at sea, by conditions on
board ship, and by noting the duties
OF officers and men when they 20 to
their stations FOR battle in the feet.
TIE Criterion Of Battle
1t is submitted that those who arc
cutting the navy personnel should keen
the following word picture at all times
before their eyes:
The enemy's acet appears, and the
signal for battle is sounded. The Off
GERS OF the lins go to their stations.
The admirals direct the feet, the divi-
sions, and the forces on tho surface
beneath the surface and above the sur
face Of the sea. The captains direct
The battleships; the commanders d.
rect the cruisers, destroyers and auxi3-
larieS; the lieutenants control the tur
rets and the guns, the torpedoes. and
handle the mines. In short, tho line
officers direct and absolutely control
everything and every weapon involved
in The killing power Of che feet. Vic
tory or defeat depends upon ther-
and upon nobody else.
Now, where are the civil engineer
admirals, the pay.naster adnirals. the
surgeon admirals and the naval con-
st1uetor adlni-als? They are ali on
shore. They never 90 to sea. They
are never in battle. Some Of them have
never been on board battleship. They
arc doing their duties on shore and
doing them faithfully and oficiently.
But which are most important-the ad-
n'irals at sea, and in battle perhaps, Or
She admirals that never 60 to sea?
And where are the civil engineer can
fains, the surgeon captains, the pay
master captains and the naval construc-
tor captains? They, too, are on. shore.
They do not go to sea. They have too
much rank 20 go GO sea. They are doing
shore duty aiways-in peace and in
var. They are efficient and faithful
But which ere more Important in c
naval sense-the captains command
ing battleships in battle, in the fleet at
sea, or the captains that never 20 ia
sea? Which requires the mosv naval
experience and training? Which can
best be spared when the navy is cut?
And, again, NC must note shat the
junior grades Of the staff corps are
represented eli board ship in the sea
fight, except the civil engineers, who
have 10 possible duties at such 8 time
The surgeon, the payniaster, the dentis,
and the chaplain are at their battle sta
tons. They are in positions Of more
or less danger, like everybody else
Their duties are faithfully performed
though they are subordinate in char
acter and rot az important as the work
OF the line officers who are handling
the ships and the guns. Moreover, the
I,,t;o, of %ioro r+otr o&coow- 81 voA -
quire long years or even months OF
weeks Of naval training. They could
be performed by surgeons, dentists
clergymen and business men N civil
life.
"Compar'sors sre odious," TO be sure
But when the navy Is to be cut com.
parsons must be made The truth may
be disagreeable, perhaps, nut it should
nevertheless be made known. Is i
more offensive TO tell the truth or tc
obscure CT deny It? Which course is
right?
There is no slternative. Politics
personal and social influence in Wash
ington and corps interests should no
control when the personnel Of the
navy Is TO be cut. Such condition
would be wrong. The welfare and fight
ing efficiency Of the fleet in peace, a.
we'll as In war, must be at all time!
conserved. The personnel which i.
least necessary to the fleet must be re
duced to minimum before the com
batant branch is cut.