The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-09
cruisers, aircraft carriers, seagoing
and aircraft, the navy

submarines and aircraft, the navy
is deficient.
SIT is not my intention this year,
having in mind the financial condi-
! Ition Of the country. to make any
recommendations for an increase
lin the navy, but I recommend
that as soon as conditions warrant.
congress be asked for such an in
crease as Will tend to balance our
feet and make and keep it the
Iequal of any in the world
The navy secretary reported that
during the fiscal year 376 naval
vessels. including six second line
battleshps. and s173 first line de-
Istroyers. had been placed out of
commission. and continued:
This sweeping reduction was
inecessitated by the cutting down Of
the enlisted strength of the navy
Ito total authorized strength OF
t86, 900 men. All the battleships not
retained in the treaty on the iimi-
tation of armament. and number
of other vessels, on account of
their material condition, have been
placed out or ordered out of COM
mission to be either scrapped or
sold. A large number of vessels
were decommissioned with view
to retaining them in good condi-
ton for future service The 173
Idestroyers, first line, are practical
I ly new vessels constructed during
the war, and great care was taken
in decommissioning them so that
they should suffer the least possible
deterioration during the period
that they will lie idle at cur naval
bases at Philadelphia. Pa. and San
Diego, California
Because of frequent changes
and unsettled conditions Mr..
DENLY said. it had been impossible
to maintain permanency in the Of
fcer. personnel. All temporary
commissions had been terminated,
he said, by the end Of the fiscal
year, and the regular roster of au-
thorized line officers stood at A.
436 as compared to an authorized
total Of 5,499 The number of en-
listed men in the service at the
end of the year on June 80, last.
was S9.513. it having been i'm
practicable to entirely meet by that
time the reduction to $4,000 order
ed by congress. The naval reserve
numbered $40 officers and TO-
s66 men.
The secretary made no recon-
mendation for a change in the law
regarding the personnel of the
regular establishment, but he urged
that the pending measure for re-
organization of the resrve be passed
to stabilize the reserves and pro-
vide for healthy increase in their
numbers and activities
Because of the reduced activities
Of the navy. Mr.. DENLY said. the
civilian force had been reduced
from 1852 on June 30, 1921, to
54.068 on June 80. 1922. cutting
the salary roll almost in half.
Recounting some of the accom-
piishments of the air arm of the
navy during the year. Mr. DENLY
said:
The development of aviation as
an integral part of the feet, with
types of aircraft suited to every
need of the naval forces. has been
the outstanding feature of the past
year in naval aeronautics. The
rapid strides that have been made
in organization and development
work have fully justified the es-
tablishment of the bureau of aero
nautics. and the work of this bu-
reau is also reflected in the gen
eral contribution that has been
made to the advancement of in
dustrial and commercial aviation
in this country
In concluding his report. the
secretary spoke a word for a fully
developed merchant marine. declar-
ing it essential to the proper func-
tioning of the navy.
There is perhaps no subject OF
more vital interest to the navy de-
partment. he said. nor one to
which more earnest attention is Civ
en- than the reestablishment of the
American merchant marine. The
liability OF the navy successfully te
defend the nation demands mer-
tchant auxiliaries.