Evening star., 1924-05-17

Although President Coolidge re-
Gently said that he did not take the
criticisms of the Navy very seriously,
the report OF Admiral Coontz has had
a disturbing effect upon public opin-
ion as voiced by the nations editors.
Because Admiral Coontz, W. r. Shear
er and others have brought severe in
dictment against the Navy's efficiency,
and because Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt admits that a good part of
this criticism Of the Navy is true. the
majority Of editors insist that an in
ouiry is needed. so that the people
may know the truth about the Navy
Congress should understand that
any inquiry into the actual state of
the Navy must be thorough. search
ing and impartial in the opinion or
the New York Times, because the
people want to know the truth about
material and personnel; 1t has been
withheld from them or disguised IN
official phrases" Furthermore. the
people want to know TO what extent
the feet has declined in efficiency and
why the 500 ratio of the Washing
ton conference has not been provided
for in appropriations and building
neglected"
The Chicago Daily News indorses
this, and is confident that public
opinion will not sanction any viola
government. Moreover, the treaty.
lin order that it may serve its ad-
mirabIe purpose, must be supple
mented by intelligent administration
of naval affairs: otherwise the Navy
presently will find itself far below
the relative strength accorded it in
the equitable plan for limiting naval
armament" The Providence Journal
agrees Intelligent public opinion will
naturally insist that the first line of
national defense be tha mantalned NaIx s nat at
equipped as it should be, the BaIti-
more Evening Sun declares, the
fault lies chiefly, if not wholly, with
the statesmen in Congress who for
many years have made naval appro-
priations q foot ball of politics.;
however. when the Navy ceases to
be the sport of politicians, and only
then. may we expect to have naval
efficiency.
1--WE are where we are today largely
for two reasons-the public's lack of
information on what a navy needs
and the game played by the little
-NdNS IllCH III SoHSicsS, Continues Tic
Milwaukee Journal. which insists that
both our national and our interna-
tional obligations demand that we
get the light promptly on this naval
situation and then start the restora-
tion treatment" The Newark News
is convinced we have no means Of
finding out except through thorough
congressional inquiry, and with an
other disarmament conference being
projected, that should be made with
out delay" If this country has fallen
sharply below its ratio as to IL tile
ships or other naval craft, the Mime
apolis Tribune claims, "it has come
to a pass that was not contemplated
when the agreements were made" ;"
and: there is small satisfaction, and
large potential trouble in having a
Navy that Is not a fighting Navy It
is not comforting to reflect, according
to the Scranton Republican, that the
country is paying a gigantic total to
maintain inefficient fighting craft"
and "the wealthiest country in the
world should not neglect the safety
Of it's people" For Congress to let
our Navy fall below the agreed ratio.
s'either in number of ships or in their
efficiency of equipment" the Column
bus Dispatch admits "is to trifie with
the country's safety"
whatever is wrong is chargeable
to the Navy Department and not to
Congress, the Buffalo News believes;
however, "all who are sincerely in
terested in the welfare of the Navy
must regard it as vital that this i'm
portant arm of defense be put in con-
dition to function properly-that it be
brought to the point of efficiency, al
ways with a proper regard for the
terms of the Washington treaty The