The Washington herald., 1922-11-03


the extreme dangers OF the present
very inefficient condition of the
navy, considered as fighting force
You will doubtless recall that ia
1897. when you were Assistant Sec
retary of the Navy. you initiated
certain reforms in naval target prac-
tice as result of information OBJ
tanned from the nava' attache
abroad concerning the progress in
craftsmanship in foreign navies.
The Spanish war interrupted these
reforms, and no progress whatever
has been made since.
Complains Of Navy.
Il have within the past few
months submitted to the NAVY De-
partment a number of reports on
foreign target practice. and on other
matters in connection with the fight
ing efficiency of our vessels; and
after as exhaustive a study of these
subjects ss my opportunities would
anord, | have, in the last of these
reports, been forced 20 the very,
very serious conclusion that the pro-
lection and armament of even our
most recent battleships are SO glar-
inGiy inferior. in principle as well as
in details, to those of our possible
enemies. and that our craftsmanship
is so crushing Y inferior to theirs.
that one or more of our ships would,
in their present condit ion. Inevitably
sufler humiliating defeat at the
hands Of equal numbers of our en-
emy's vessels of the same class and
displacement.
Il fully realize the extreme grav-
ity of this statement: but IL is the
result Of a long and conscientious
study of the subject; and am con-
'vinced that it is the p ain truth; and
this opinion is held by all the naval
officers of my acquaintance who have
seriously considered the subjects
treated in the reports above indi-
dated.
The comma nder-in- chief of the
naval force ON the Asiatic station.
Rear Admiral Remey. in forwarding
MY last report To the Secretary of
the Navy. states that he fully agrees
with the conclusions therein given.
and that he considers our present
situation extremely critica'.
Points to Proof.
In this report have set forth
as clearly as possible the reasons
IN support of the above statement
which reasons are principally
based on Information acquired lu--
ing period OF tree years as naval
attache to our embassies at Paris
and st. Petersburg. and one year
on this station, where have ha,
opportunities of becoming familiar
with the details Of a numre.. of the
most recent foreign vessets
1T would have been nv duty to
have made these comparisons be-
tween our vessels and those Of
other nations, while was occu-
in. the position o; attacha. but 7
was unable to 10 SO ct tha. time
rs 7 waa not then arnu"intel with
the details of the construction OF
our latea. vrS>e.:
That my criticisms are. however,
rot exaggerated Is unfortunately
but too completely demonstrated by
IL. recent special target practice in
Re North Atlantic squadron which
shows much greater ineTiciency in
mrrksmanship than have re-
ported. or than could have
'nIr" ned possible. Five ships each
fired daring five minutes Al a hulk
.
made E total of two bits. The hulk
wac afterward sunk at close range.
u am aware OF the irreguIsrity
10 th',G addressing yad personally: /:
IL ut the danger of tac fa'se inn
less o.. th1t is uniNe: sal through
eui the United states concerning
the efficiency of the navy. appears
- re 50 great. and the need OF
nromp: anG rali~aI reform there
tore so extremely urg.n- that
hope ! may not be considered as
o. srstepping tie bounds OF pro-
prietT In inviting your personal at
tention to tho papers indicated IN
the inclossd emorgadur--par-
ticular'y the last report. which
with Admir,.,S Remcy's letter cf
transmittal IL now on file In the
I"ffice of the Hon. Secretary Of the
Navy.
Il am, sir. very respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
(Signed) VIM. 8. SIMMS,
Lieutenant. u. s. NJ
Roosevelt Also Insubordinate.
Sir Percy Scott was correct:
was insubordinate right enough
But Roosevelt had been insubordi-
nate himself when. as Assistant
Secretary OF the Navy, he invaded
Cabinet meeting to try to force
| Secretary Long to prepare for tbs
Spanish American war. Years Later
in an Interview he said regarding
|