New Britain herald., 1927-09-26
MAIRUDUR GEES BACKING
 ON NAVY

CouEresemar J, V NcClnuc, CT the House rayal affairs committee, nas infected his oar into the troubled seas Of navy talk that has hesn brought upon Us through an article by Admiral T. P, Magrrder recently published in the Saturday Evening Post He states that the Admiral pas quite right in his charges CT iuefticiercy ia the Navy and that he Init the nail on the head when t comes 10 diagnosing come of the evils which are under mining the morale of the Navy" Unfortunately, however, the Con zressrnan did not stop there, He also stated during the World War our ha-rleships were parked in the York River until the time arrived 10 come out and witness the surren- der Of the German fleet and be photographed" If this latter state ment is 10 be taken as indicative ot inc Concressman's knowledge ot naval affairs he is woefully ignorant and the remainder Of his remarks bear very little weight,
 The York River was a concentra- ton point for Navy ships, base for the larger type vessels and their es- corts. l. is true that the battlcships spent q great deal Of tune lying al anchor behind the nets below York town. II is true that every battle snip does The same thing. As an of fensiye weapon it is little good these days. Cruises are made from bases 10 convoy troopships. lay mines, hold target practice and train crews The personnel ot the battle fleet, proFId- ing f is apparent that action with the enemy E not imminent, Is yell trained. Sailors for gun watches aboard troopships and merchant men, deckhands and grnnors for the moro active smaller ships such as destroyers not attached to the fleet, are kept aboard and trained. Of course the maintenance of q fleet for this purpose alone is not warranted, but without Great Britain's huge collection Of battleships Of all classes, with ou~ own moro modest feet in the hacE-e ground Germany would have won the war, beyond question Our means of protection against her fleet was at hand and she knew it. Her fleet was more in active than ours, taking into account the longer time she vas engaged in warfare. Without our bat.lesh'ps handy. ready for action, she could have rreyei upon shipping until there vaz no stiprirg loft, she could have carried OF her pol,cy os in- timida'o1 by raidiug exposed DOT tons Of tha coasts and burned some of our smaller cities. w. had 10 nave tn Nav Because Germany dia not dare fight a' sea if is a-- sumed that our 3htps were q needless expense.
 But the instance In which Inc Congressman ehoas Lis greatest Ignorance is ir ris statement regard ing the sarread-r Of the German feet Not a st,p aneh lay in the York Rnor witnessed l's surrender All oc them eare presumably pNoto- @rapao1. lu, wna, hatuesb.p l- ao,2 His words Trad onc 'o ssr.r, tsst hs thinks fine fleet ls rn '.a avar do- ing noIjnr utua "aa ,5,.. 70 ron, forth and wIgses 'us hanlaat.oa Of 'he German High Seas f.a' II, could oot ie Dr,hr~ "lorr.
 There w.e. American 1ar.@apa at tha aarro.tar of Inc Germans Bar taes~ ships lad b,.n e part oC she British Grand Fleet under tha immediate commaua of Admira Ilodnan aa4 he aah command Q. Admiral L.mfv for mary ron'as- alI Of tH.m THoy bad born a.,.F-y connected rl'H u- HrH.r talla their turns at votrg into Inc &orrN Seq and almost under th, guns Of the German defense. conveying guarding fto mlHclaycrs. noIdng batting trips ia an effort fo force another battle similar to JwIaud patrolling and occasionally joining the entire force in fleet marcuners They were the ships that witnessed the surrender and the only ours al- though the Nevada was ordered rom Ireland to join the fact for tho dnal scene. She did not arrive m lime. England. without the aid Of these fre bat'loabips could have done very nell with the German bat