The Washington times., 1924-11-11
(ONNENI)5.
COOLIDGE
INQUIRY
Comes None Too Soon, Adj
VnIral Says, IT Fleet l. to
Have Proper Support
BY REAR ADMIRAL w. F.
FULLAM, U. s. N. (Retired).
Copyright, 1894, by International
News Ssrvice.l

Copyright 1875, by International
News Ssrvice.l
The President has wisely initi-
ated a thorough investigation of
the relative Importance of surface
ships, submarines and aircraft in
connection with our future naval
policy. The Secretary of the
Navy has appointed a board Of
high ranking officers of the navy
to probe deeply into this ques-
ton and to make such a report
rs may serve to guide the Navy
Department in its recommended
tions Ito Congress as well as to
provide the naval committees with
well digested information that
should inspire without dangerous
delay appropriations which vii!
most judiciously and economically
prepare the United States fleet.
for the next war on the seas-for
the next war, be it remembered,
not for wars Of the past in which
submarines and air forces were
little used or not used at all.
Postponed Too Long.
This investigation has been too
long postponed. The Navy today
IL unprepared for war. The recent
report Of the Commander in Chief
proves it to be. From naval view
point the situation is perilous. But
we may console ourselves in the
thought that the solution of the
problem Of preparing our Navy for
modern war is quite simple. We
have only to use common sense
plain, everyday American common
sense.
We have but to study dispassion.
.ately and intelligently the awful
record Of submarine efficiency in
the world war-an open book-and
supplement this with wide awake
appreciation of what air forces have
done and may do with bombs
torpedoes, mines, gas, and smoke
screens. We have only to invesu-
gate these two things to formulate
q building program that viii supply
the weapons above and below our
surface fleets without which 1t is
doomed to crushing and humiliating
defeat in the next war. The Ques-
ton is, therefore, will we use
common sense. If we do we win.
IL not we lose.
Emergency Faced.
It cannot be denied that the
e.
It needs the support and determ-
ined backing of every friend, every
patriotic citizen. The people love
the Navy. The vast majority realize
that we must have a strong up-to-
date fighting navy. And they
want strong Navy, not a weak
one. They want an up-to.date navy,
not a behind.the.times navy.
The navy has three dangerous
enemies:
~ Conservatism.
(2) Pacifism.
(3) Little. Navy-is1n.
Let us briefly consider these
three obstacles to a modern navy
because they must all of them be
scotched like three rattlesnakes be-
fore our fleet can be made ready
for battle.
Conservatism has existed and stin
exists in the navy, in Congress, In
the press, among some Of our people
and among many naval experts and
writers. They ere looking backward
to the years before the World
war. They are befogged and mud
died with dreams of the Spanish.
American war Of 1898. Their minds
are confined within the armored
walls Of 16inch gun turret.
Through the narrow peep-hole they
can not see a periscope alongside,
nor an airplane with a 1000, pound
bomb overhead. They cannot see
beyond the bow Of battleship.
Examples Of Conservatism.
Let us particularize. Less than
four years ago, under Mr.. Daniels
regime, the Navy Department cut
six long-range submarines out Of
the appropriation bill. Today we
need those submarines, more than
any other type of ship, except air
plane carriers. At about the same
time Mr.. Daniels declared that he
would willingly stand on the deck
of the Ostfriesland and let General
Mitchell bomb her-Ajax defy.ng
the Mghtnlngi Where! Oh, where!
is the Ostfriesland today? But the
Secretary was not the only expert
who expressed contempt for the air
power.
In the writer's presence in a
hearing before the Naval Committee
in February 1921, discussing the
effect Of exploding an 500 pound
bomb which wrecked two or three
decks and blew the topsides OFF
the Indiana, the chief constructor
OF the Navy declared that eft did
not penetrate the protection deck