Evening star., 1924-06-23

once more the nation is horrlfied
by casualty list from d hattleship
of the United States in times of peace.
In discussing the recent explosion on
board the Mississippi the press ap-
plauds the bravery OF the crew. but
sees in the disa ster need of urgent
reform in the Navy for the safety of
its men.
Many editors recall that this is the
fourth or fifth naval tragedy in Pa
circ waters in recent years. and they
conclude that something must be
wrong either with our ships or with
the men who manage them. The San
Francisco Bulletin mentions that
few years ago naval architect called
attention TO the dangers in the sys-
tenn. common in the construction of
our ships. by which powder is sup
piled from storage magazines 10 the
deck The Bulletin declares some
thing must be done to remedy d SES-
tenn thus subject to hazards, because
1T will not take many more incidents
of this kind to CLASSIFY the American
Navy with that OF France. of which
the critics have been won't to say
that il kills more men on its own
ships than on those of it's enemies.
x
Al least two questions are placed
before the responsible heads of the
Navy Department by this disaster in
the opinion of the Baltimore sun,
which says: THE one is whether the
short enlistment Of American
seamen permits that absolute famili-
ha lira har II
of the modern warship which is es-
sential il accidents caused by care
lessness are to be reduced TO mini
num- The other question is whether
this is not further proof that the
ca pital ship has reached the stage OF
overdevelopment. In little over
| wear nearly one hundred lives and d
number of ships have been lost by
| accidents in the American Navy
Those who give their sons TO the
! service and the larger number VINO
| bear the taxation which supports IL
have the right TO know Where the
| blame lies"
| feels that these disasters of the Navy
have been all too frequent in recent
wears and that there should De
searching investigation and the re
sponsibility should pc nSeo IL Possi
| HE and if il should develop that II
| had any connection with lack OF moo
erniza1ion we shall have all the more
reason for bringing the American n
| ships I'D to standard" The Lansing
state Journal feels that in days or
neace the American Navy is always
iGeterjorating, creating cause for
warnings and fears and lamenta-
| ,ions." and we are forever being
told that it ranks below the strength
| Of other frst-class nations
+
II seems incredible to the Kansas
City Journal that such an accident
even though far from unique, should
occur. under all the circumstances
however. "the disaster emphasizes
the fact that peace has it's dangers
az well as victories, no less than
war" and "if anybody is at fault
in this instance, the fact should be
definitely established and appropriate
action taken" The St. Paul Dispatet
agrees that the disaster illustrates
the vital necessity of unendins vigil
lance in instruction and discipline o.
naval seamen."
"The lesson to be drawn from thu
Mississippi's disaster" the Buffalo
News suggests, lis that heavy re-
sponsibility rests on our naval ON
GERS to anticipate emergencies, TO al
low for the human equation that W.
know as carelessness," because m e1
charged with firing a huge naval gul
should have known The danger OF