The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-16
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 |I OVER
Admiral Coontx RAnert. 1,,

Admiral Coontz Reports Chief Naval Operations. Addrcs.. yy..h ington, D. c. 'Asn- While at Sea. 's1is'' sts ' T any to 43. ueis Respectfully submitted by coonts Admiral Foreword: Our navy is wondrous thing in point of Ii lacks a bit of ev'rytAins with great con- It's short of ships, and submarines and speed I and gunnery,
 In fact, it's most surprising that it isn't short of sea. t,3 s It's short of light destroyers and it's short machinery;
 It's short of ammunition to narrowing de- gree.
 (And If it fights battle it will soon be short of mel
 The fleet is fit for anything =. except the l life at sea! Flagships: It's very shy of flasships of high efficiency unsteadily--'
 shes very helpful flagship when she's an- chored we'll to lee; T5 The navys fit for anything except trip to ] sea. <S
 Boilers: ..E Each boiler of the battlefleet's liability. The sooner we replace the things .the safer we will be; The Arkansas and the Utah must be driven tendery-
 It's very noble navy but it shouldn't sail l the sea.
 Staff Accommodations; Flag-p plotting room upon each bridge we have | but scantily; 1 The battle stations are so small they hold but two or three, And crowding doesn't help the staff direct successfully; Still it's a lovely navy if it shuns the open sea. Of cruisers we've a shortage that I cite I indignantly, In fact, sir. not single one took mart in l Problem III;
 Yet when a fleet is cruising, cruisers help 1 tremendously; rsg We need some in our navy if we plan to
 Destroyers: Destroyers? We'll, I have to laugh "hee haw! also 'tee! hee!" Too slow to lead squadron which should be their specially; We let them follow on behind which proves conclusively
 Our navy is impregnabIe if never sent to sea. Of submarines the less say the more you'll think of me They can't precede fleet because from speed they're wholly free; In battle they would not arrive, I say re- luetantly,
 Until said battle had become a part of his tory.
 Mine Layers and Sweepers: Our mine layers can lay no mines they lack them totally; And when they have no mines to lay, it fol A sweeper cannot sweep them up by any strategy z That's known by any naval force that ever went to sea.
 Aircraft: Our airplanes are frishtful bust unques- tionably; The catapults work now and then but only clumsily,
 And when it's rough they're helpful as a troop of cavalry; They'll save the U. s. navy .. if it but forsakes the sea,
 Destroyer Tenders: Destroyer tenders, they're a joke and, most unhappily, We had to tow em into port in groups of two and three; These tenders are too tender for the least diversity ass Especially when using them upon the bound ing sea.
 Transports, Etc: '.s The transports are an old.time lot :. our ships Are far too slow to be of use in an emer- gency. The government I realize must show frugality | But ferrSboatt can hardly aid fleets eff | ciency. e-as
 Radio, Lights, Etc: Our radio equipment functions antiQuatedly | Our searchlight signals are not what they | really ought to be; And when we would communicate we whistle tmidly,
 A system hardly adequate for movements on the sea.
 Conclusions: Outside of these few faiings I"shOuld say reservedly
 That it has been established by the Problems The navy's fit for anything except to go to sea, Yours truly and sincerely, COontz, Admiral R. E.