The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-03-11
Navy Needs
Jolt. Many
Now Think

y
navy departments archaic bu-
reaucraey junked. along with
square-rigges and birchbark
canoes. and an efficient modern
setup substituted
We find Secretary Knox bob
bing up here and there at boat
ehristenings when he should be
at his desk-or maybe he is of
no little use In the capital that
he is sent scurrying around the
country like ubiquitous news
reel camera man. Launchines
could be handled by famous re-
tired admirals. too old for service
but still eager TO contribute \
part in the war effort.
A fully competent secretary
should find more important
duties these days than watching
champagne bottles crash across
bows. These disturbed critics
admit that Mr.. Knox II . fine
fellow personally and when he
WAS young he did q swell Job
~ a Rough Rider, but he still
thinks We can beat Admiral
Nagano by the oid-fashioned
methods we used against down.
at-fhe-heel Cervera back In 1899.
We need more than new ships;
we need new faces in navy head
quarters who will say, like Far
ragut, damn the red tape. full
steam ahead. We must have
civilian and service officials who
will streamline the cumbersome,
outmoded organization and thus
prevent continuous series Of
blunders.
What further errors Of care
lessness and judgment can we
stand: In this grim game Of
war, how many strikes can
bureau chief batter have on him
before he Is out.
Companies owning tankers lin
the recent U-boat depredations
along the Caribbean lost their
craft. but not their money. So
well were the vessels covered by
insurance that they yielded
handsome financial returns.
fact which will not be over
looked by congress struggling
with a bill to pay not only for
marine damage but also for the
destruction of homes and busi-
ness buildings by enemy action.
American protective concerns
are So powerful today that re-
Gently underwriters took risks
on a single cargo worth six
million dollars.
OF course, the rates for hulls
or ocean freight are stiff; they
cost two and half per cent TO
the West Indies. Those today
are the highest on record. In
1899 war risk exchange assets
were over one billion dollars.
Private institutions offer open
policies which automatically
blanket everything. eyerywhers
at current market figures.
The war shipping administra-
ton has forty million dollars IN
funds available in case service
cannot be obtained from nom
federal interests on reasonable
terms.
One of the scandals in 1914
Il was the fortunes certain Brit
fish interests reaped by carrying
sky-high insurance on lines
where sinkings were frequent.
The target ships were almost
willingly sacrificed because the
policies paid such q fat profit'
The government stepped in ana
stopped the racket. and TO-DAY
the system is under complete
control.
The Unsuitable Jap is looking
for his next victim and his
hungry eyes are on Australia
At last he will find mucn
tougher morsel to swallow. fof
here are white men unhampefeo
by timid or traitorous native
populations. although some fears
have been stirred by the pres
ence of Italian aliens IN the
Queensland cane fields.
Another difficulty facing Inc
defenders j. the scarcity of rs's'
road communications and tins
break in gauge between tn'
systems of the different states
One extremely valuable ssse'
unknown To most Americans II
that the continent has consioff'
able manufacturing capacity sne
sent not only soldiers to tn'
Near and Far East but as
mechanical equipment
Munitions workers have IN
creased from five thousand U
more than two hundre1 tnod
sand. Domestic coal and iroi
deposits supply steel industries
that produce two million tons o
ingots a year. The Diggers nav
their own machine tool factone
which fashion everything from
precision instruments 70 g1gzn
tic presses. From these com
planes. guns. shells and SHIPS
ard a skilled labor able 10 set u
and service the material ifon
American srsenals-
The country has twelve tn"n
sand miles Of coast line 10 "ate'
but many stretches are un'i
for large scale landings an