The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1923-10-11

civilians formed to disseminate in
( formation concerning the state and
state and needs of the Navy and
to promote interest in maintaining
the first line of our national de-
Tense. 1t was organized in 1902, at
a time when it became apparent
that the navy built up during the
Spanish War was in danger OF
deterioration because Of lack Of in
terest and understanding on The part
Of the people and Of their Con
gress.
At the time the Navy League was
formed. President Roosevelt wrote
from the White House; At seems
to rae that all good Americans, in
teres1ed in the growth Of this coun-.
Try and sensitive to its honor, should
give hearty support to the policies
which the Navy League is founded
to further. / congratulate the coun-
try because it has been formed"
After fifteen years OF active friend
ship for the League it is an inter
esting fact that President Roose-
Welt gave the League five hundred
dollars of the money he received
from the Nobel Peace Prize. a fund
which he distributed to the organi-
cations and causes he considered
most worthy Of support.
The League is heartily in accord
with the Washington Conference and
the principle Of limitation Of naval
armaments by agreement laid down
bv it. 1t stands for the full ac-
ceptance Of the implication Of the
5-5-3 ratio, that is that the United
States should nor only keep within
the limits of the treaty but that
it should maintain its naval strength
in every essential respect as per
mitted under the treaty
What is not generally realized Is
that the United States Navy is not
a4 strong as it Is permitted to be
under the treaty It is not as
strong as it should be Thirteen ot
the eighteen battJeships need noder-
nizing. Twenty scout cruisers are
necessary to maintain the treaty
ratio in this weapon as compared
To Japah, and eSen nfGfe as com
pared to Great Britain. The United
States is defivient in cruiser sub
marines. The number Of enlisted
personnel is low In many ways 1t
is under the treaty strength.
The League tries to inform those
who do not know the value and
necessity for strong navy. 1t
tries to impress upon the friends OF
the navy that it is not enough Tor
them TO think to obtain an adequate
navy. 1t is not even enough that =!
their representatives IN congress
vote for sufficient appropriations Tor
the navy. 1t is necessary to have |
the vote of a majority of repres-
entatives in Congress. The League |
Joins the friends of the navy IN |
spreading correct information con-
cering the why and how Of the navy.
Mr.. Robert w. Kelly of New York,
is President of the League. Among
its vice-presidents and directors are
numbered the Hon. John Wingate
Weeks. Secretary of War, who is
graduate of the U. S. Naval Aca-
denny; DR.. David Jayne Hill, former
Ambassador to Germany, Col. Rob
art NJ. Thompson, also a graduate
Of the Naval Academy, a lifelong
friend of the Navy League; Judge
McAdoo, Chief City Magis-
trate of New York and former AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy; Mr.
William Howard Gardiner, naval
critic; Col Henry Breckenridge
former Assistant Secretary of War
ANY citizen of the United States Is
eligible to membership.
On October 81. 1922, the Navy
League held its first Navy Day
Such general interest was taken IN +
the event that it was decided to re-
peat it this year.
The following letter was written by
the President to the Secretary OF .
the Navy in connection with the /
forthcoming celebration: i
The White House, (
Washington. /
my dear Mr. Secretary:
1T has been pleasing to learn
Of the plans to continue this year
the observance of October, 9th. I
birthday Of the late President Roose- /
velt. as Navy Day. The date Is ap- !
propriate in view of the part Pres !
Ident Roosevelt played in making /
our modern navy, of his historical /
writings dealing with lit, and OF he /
which, as Presid ut. !
he gave regarding the effective utii- Z