Evening star., 1922-04-15
NAWLEAGUE ASKS
TRAINED SEA FORCE
Emphasizes Danger to This
Country in Reducing
Personnel.

Effective sea defense of the ma
tion can only be maintained by keep
ing the Navy equipped with sufficient
men trained in the intricacies of mod
ern fighting ships, bulletin issued
by the Navy League Of the United
States today pointed out. 1t pointed
out that the House appropriations
committee, the British and japanese
governments had proposed a person.
mel quota, which not only would de-
feat the naval treaty, but would also
put the United States in class be-
low that of Japan. 1t would actually
sink the United States to third place.
instead of keeping it on a par with
Great Britain.
IF the American representatives to
the Washington conference" it sig
nificantly pointed out, had agreed
to weaken the Navy to such a degree
they would have been condemned as
men who sold out their country"
The statement pointed out that the
figures proposed by the House ap-
preparations committee. the British
and japanese governments provided
for the following officers and men.
inclusive of reserves: United States,
$4,000; Great Britain, 100000 and
Japan, 100000, in the following ratios.
respectively, 81. 4.03 and 80. The
three countries and the ratio fol-
low: United States. $4,000, IS: Great
Britain, 10000. 4.3, and Japan, IT,
900, 80.
United States Would Be Weakened.
These figures the bulletin said
further, ''are derived from officially
published information. It should
carefully be noted that, according to
them. the United States Navy will be
little more than half as strong as that .
Of Great Britain, and actually weak
er than that of Japan.
THE power of navy is measured
by % its personnel-trained officers
and enlisted men; (2) its materials
ships. guns tCrpedoes and mines.
.Of the two, the personnel is de.
cisively the more important.
Ships themselves. do not fight Mes
fight ships.
admiral Mahan said: Good mea
with poor ships will always beat pool
men with good ships
Meaning of 1Good Men,"
Good men means men trained and
experienced in the practice of the ma
val profession and therefore not only
filed with self-confidence, but having
the practiced ability to fight theft
ships effectively. The shots that hit
are the only ones that count
AN efficient personnel for war can
be produced only by years of patient
hard work in peace and in no othef
way.
The manipulation of modern en-
gines of naval warfare has become
more and more scientific. The crew
of a modern battleship presents one
of the most complex and delicate or
ganizations of human beings in the
world. This holds true for airplane
carriers, cruisers. destroyers and sub
marines. And in only slightly less
degree to other vitally important
ers, destroyer tenders, repair and
hospital ships.
Strength Of British.
The British navy, including naval
air forces, but exclusive of marines,
consists of about 125,000 officers and
men. The British government has an
force to about 10000 officers and men.
The British have naval reserve OF
10000 officers and men. most of whom
follow the sea as profession.
The Japanese navy today consist.
these are marines. Unoffcial reports
from Toxic indicate a reduction to
1900 officers and men. The reduced
force will be sufficient fully to man
treaty and leave 35 per cent Of the
total personnel available for shore
establishments, aviation and training.
Japan has a naval reserve of about
10000 officers and men.
Present Strength. 100000.
''The United States Navy today. ex-
elusive of marines, numbers 1000
officers and men. Congress contem-
plates reducing this number to $4,000
officers and men. Such is the action OF
the appropriations committee of the
House of Representatives. 1t must be
borne in mind that such drastic and
unwise reduction is condemned by the
President, the Secretary of the Navy,
the general board of the Navy and all
those who are officially responsible
for maintaining naval defense.
IF the appropriations committee has
it's way, the ratio established in prin-
ciple at the Washington conference
will be thrown to the winds. The
United States will sink definitely into
third nlace"