New Britain herald., 1924-04-30
AMERICAN NAVY IN
 DEPLORABLE SHAPE
Ships Slow, Out of Repair and
 Many Out of Date
ALL SUBS ARE DEFICIENT
Admiral Coontz. Commander in Chief, Reports That Recent Maneuvers shows Up Alarming Deficiencies Appropriations Too Small.

Washington, April 3o.-Serious de- hciencies in the United States fighting 1eet mobilized in southern waters last winter were reported by Admiral Robert E. Coontz, commanders chief Tn his official account to the navy de- partment of what was demonstrated during the maneuvers.
 Admiral Coontz said in his report, ex- iracts from which were obtained to- Jay at the navy department, that the heet vas seriously embarrassed by the low speed of the auxiliary ships; that ships generally had not been kept properly repaired" because of lack of appropriations; that 13 of the older battleships needed modernization of machinery, elevation of turret guns and equipment with anti-aircraft de- fenses; and that submarine opera ions were the worst of all combatant ships taking part in the maneuyers."
 Subs Of Little Use
 Al submarines are so deficient In speed as to be of small use for fleet work except by accident of position" hh'ai Nspoilts TepoItSu. SO1Slu- ring the poor material, the work of he personnel aboard these submar- les is in many cases most admirable
 nd even heroic"
 With relation to the slowness of
 arious ships, both combatant and taxiliary, the report said that on one Wroblem during the maneuyers under mich the entire fleet was supposed id cruise at maintained speed of ten Nnots, the rate had to be materially educed. The chief reason was the "slowness of the auxiliary ships"
 The train under convoy would init speed to 7ia knots" Admiral 'oont2 said.
 Building Program Urged
 The report urged that the build
 < program 10 complete aircraft car ! icrs, destroyers and submarine tcn- l CTS. and to construct light cruisers, modern submarines" destroyer ! auadron leaders and fleet heavier i han.air machines, bs pressed. It flso recommended modernization of ! SC battlcships Florida, Utah. Ar { tansas, Wyoming, New York, Texas, i Nevada and Oklahoma, to include in- | 'rcasing elevations and range Of tur- 'et guns; that measures 10 produce q class Of fleet submarines be aken; that increased funds be made ,vailable to maintain the fleet ade- luately and that an annual full pow r trial be ordered for all auxiliary hips. \ number of other minor de- cIopments also wore recommended.
 Deficiency shows Up
 Great deficiency" in tho fleet had ,acn shown by the maneuNer. Ad- nirai Coontz said. due to the lack Of Q, 1000 ton cruisers. armed with eight nch guns, for use ''as supports for he screen and linking vessels" The estroyers. he added, had performed rell but the lack Of destroyer leaders , ad been "keenly Felt in all the 7 Ioblcms." As to the general condition of tho hips. the report said , ''rhe condition Of material Of the , cet is not as good as 1t ought to be. here Is what may be called a de- , .rrcd maintenance resulting from the avt's inability 10 keep the ships !, roperly repaired and up 10 date in 1, 3c way Of beneficial alterations. due :. costly 10 insufficient appropriations. q 'nder present conditions it will re- : tiirc a lot of time 10 overcome this {, 1-cslled deferred maintenance" .