Evening star., 1937-05-23
BY FREDERICK PALMER,
Noted American Author and War
CORRESPONDENT.

r YE is chief of the supreme po-
lice force-chief OF a plant
which represents an invest
L 4 ment equaling the total cap
ital Of the three largest corporations
of steel, oil and motors. Wages in his
organization are low-yet there Is
room for only one out of twenty who
apply for jobs. The 1875, 10000 stock
holders get no money dividends: on
the other hand. they are continually
paying increased assessments.
Political controversies which rage
elsewhere in Washington never ap-
proach the desk Of this quiet man in
his quiet simply appointed office. Yet
he commands mighty realm on sea
and land and In the air and under
the surface Of the sea.
We hear little about Admiral Will
liam D. Leahy. chief of operations Of
the United States Navy. The meas
ure Of his power is not in his fame,
but in the authority that his sigma
ture carries down the line. His mind
Is ever on the Battle Fleet, which at
this writing is at its annual maneuvers
behind a curtain of strategic and
tactical mystery.
We know that we have Navy. But
Just what do we know about our
Navy? We know that this years out
lay on 1t will be S525,0o0, ,000-more
than any year since the days just
after the World War. Also, we are to
build two new battleships at cost
Of $50,000,0 900 each.
Expensive Building Program.
This reminds us that four years
ago we began an extensive building
program to bring our Navy up to the
five of the 5-5-3 naval limitation pact
Now that Japan, in her dissatisfac-
ton with her three, has denounced
the pact, We seem to face race OF
armament in a madly arrning worlc
in which front rank promises to be
to the nation with the sharpest teeth
and strongest claws.
And, generally speaking, We know
what our Navy is for. 1t is nationa
insurance against war; or, If wa,
comes, to keep 'em off''-to keep al
enemies away from our coasts. How
are we to know that the Navy car
do it?
| At times we see pictures Of battle
ships steaming in column and nava
planes sweeping overhead. Occa
sionally, even on the Atlantic Coas
and in the interior, we see Nav.
sailor ashore. This suggests that tn
Navy belongs to the whole countr.
and not only to the South Pacifi
Coast, where its home ports are.
Why the concentration there? Close
proximity to Japan is the answe
taken for granted. But does tina
tell all?
Number Of Visitors.
Possibly one out Of 10000 America
civilians has ever been on nava
ship. Visitors are shown through tn
mems quarters They walk about tn
decks under the guns and around tn
turrets, but do not see the gun drill
or descend into the bowels Of the shil
Any civilian who gets this privileg
is In q domain Of mechanical magi
Officers and men off duty from the
mysterious world do not talk sho
lest listeners get q headache.
Without knowing much about ou
costly Navy we take it for granite
that 1t must be good. When We fec
that it IS not strong enough, we in
crease naval appropriations.
This means more ships. But, frs
what of the men who man them?
II all who wanted to join the er
listed force were accepted we shoul
have nearly 100000 sailors. AS q
applicant you are out at the start ur
less you have sound physique and
good grade school, preferably a hie
school, education. This helps you
the exacting intelligence test.
!, Then, what about your character
Evidence Is sought from the loc,
chief Of police or postmaster, backe
by two letters from reputable citizen
You are out II you keep bad compar