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was not : startedr until April 5, 1913, and wad
completed Apil 1', 1915. As -to mine sweepers,
a division of serigoing tugs and a division of tor
pedo boats have recently been equipped with
mine-sweeping gear, and the destroyer tender
carries mine sweeping gear for a division of de
stroyers' operating with the fleet. Additional
gear is being supplied. At Pensacola during tho
winter, the San Francisco and submarine flotilla
have been operating jointly in mining exercises.
The department has begun the manufacture of
mines and in a short time will have 31 mines
for every 9 it had two years ago, increasing our
stock 244 per cent. By manufacturing mines at
a government station in lieu of purchasing them,
a saving of $178,750 has been effected.
AS TO GUNS
The bureau of. ordnance has developed a 14
inch gun that will shoot farther, shoot straighter
and hit harder than any gun now in use or
known to be designed by a foreign country.
Based upon former and current prices in con
tracts for guns and gun forgings we have saved
$280,425.33.
AS TO POWDER
Upon my recommendation, congress increased
the capacity of the navy powder factory at In
dian Head. When the extension now under way
is completed, the capacity will be nearly doubled.
The cost of manufacture has incidentally been
reduced 2.7 cents per pound, saving already in
the cost of powder since manufactured, $150,
000. AS TO RADIO
Radio has at last been successfully installed
on submarines, and more than 75 other ships,
which either had no radio or whose equipment
was obsolete, have been supplied with modern
'equipment. Three entirely new shore stations
have beeii added to the chain: Balboa (Canal
Zone), Great Lakes (111.), and Tutuila, (Samoa).
AS TO AIR CRAFT
The European war has emphasized tho value
of , air craft. The navy has lagged behind in this
instrument of wan Last year I appointed a
board of aviation. It recommended the utiliza
tion of the abandoned navy yard at Pensacola
as a training and repair station for aviation, and
amaviatf on bureau, in the department. Thi3 has
been donej Upon myi earnest recommendation,
congress appropriated a million dollars to begin,
upon an elaborate plan, the real development of
aviation in the navy. It also approved my re
quest to pay aviators an increase of 50 per cent
and we are organizing a class of capable aviators.
To make immediately effective this feature, three
new hydroplanes have ;ust been purchased,
which is but the beginning of the work of avia
tion, now well advanced along the lines of a well
considered plan. I regard this as one o'f the
most far reaching steps taken by the Wilson ad
ministration; ' AS TO SAVINGS EFFECTED
All this unprecedented increase in the navy
has been secured, too, without large increase in
appropriations. How? By avoiding unnecessary
expenditure ashore, by reducing the cost of work
ashore while maintaining its quality and reduc
ing appropriations for enlargement of shore sta
tions, by securing real competition, and by econ
omy. During the four years of Taft, $21,928,
572 was appropriated by congress for the public
works alone of shore stations. Two naval bills
have been passed by the present administration,
and they- carry together, for the public works of
shore stations, a total of $3,920,880 We have
greatly reduced expenditures ashore and greatly
increased them afloat, and the above figures at
test the change for the better. When I became
secretary, ships, could be built in only two navy
yards. We have equipped or are equipping five
additional navy yards for the construction of
navy craft, and this is being done while at the
same time there is a big decrease in appropria
tions ashore. By securing competition, I saved
SI, 07 7,2 10 in one contract for projectiles. Up
to date, by first rejecting all bids and demanding
more reasonable .figures, I have saved $1,110,
084.00 in the purchase of armor plate, securing
lower prices than, my predecessor -secured. In
two. other bureaus alone last year, $1,800,000
was saved -more than enough to enable congress
to re-appropriate one million of the savings for
aviation and the .balance for submarines. There
has been the same character of savings in other
ways too many items to enumerate. So much
for the material and preparation. Of course, we
neqd constantly to increase the ships and arma
ment, but. the increase in the past two years,
larger .thap, in any previous two years In the his
tory of the country, is an earnest of what wm
come In tho regular and ordorly and necessary
increase of naval equipment
But of what worth is a Bhip without well
trained men? What has tho Wilson administra
tion done as to personnel? It is a plcasuro to
tell you that for tho first time in years tho en
listment is up to tho limit prescribed by law,
and part of tho year wo havo had a waiting list.
Since I became secretary of tho navy wo have in
creased tho enlistment 5,824 men, enabling us
to commission fully 20 submarines, 4 battle
ships, 4 destroyers, 6 gunboats, 1 battleship, C
cruisers, and 3 monitors, increasing tho total
number of commissioned vessels by 41 over tho
number commissioned on March 1, 1913. I ro
gard this as a great achievement, particularly
since the navy had not formerly been able to se
cure enough men to fill the quota. It has been
secured, too, without letting down tho standard
for admission, which has been maintained, and
oven raised. For every recruit accepted, five
were rejected because they did not como up to
our high standard. To what is tho increase of
our enlistments attributed? The answer is easy:
To the establishment of schools, opportunity to
see the world, and for promotion afforded on
listed men hitherto denied them. In those two
years 13 men have been appointed as assistant
paymasters; five as midshipmen at Annapolis;
and 12 as ensigns. It is true that prior to the
Wilson administration it was possible for an en
listed man to be promoted to bo ensign, but in
the four years of tho Taft administration only
three were promoted, while in the two years of
the Wilson administration eleven havo qualified.
How does this happen? Tho new policy of edu
cation and assistance was put into operation in
1913. Now every ambitious and aspiring young
enlisted man is given special instruction whon
he desires it. Upon my recommendation, con
gress passed an act which gives all tho positions
of pay-clerk to these enlisted men who can qual
ify. This opens 200 more places to enlisted men.
It is true today as never before that a boy may
enlist in tho navy and by the display or ability
be promoted to the grade of admiral. Not only
has the enlistment been increased by 5,824 new
recruits, but congress gava us the best reserve
bill any nation ever put upon the statute books.
Whilo-ro-enlistments havo increased 12 per cent,
desertions have decreased 17 per cent. Another
incentive to enlistment is the new policy which
leaves an open door to young men to retire from
the navy other than through the door of the
prison; and likewise tho modern methods of
treating men who have violated rules.
With special emphasis," I beg you to ask any
well-informed man In or out of the service as to
the ability and capacity of the various officers
whom I havo called as advisors and to the heads
of the bureaus. You will find that the man se
lected in each bureau is recognized, both in our
own and foreign navies, as an able expert in his
line.
One word more: For years there has been un
successful insistence that congress should re
establish the grades of admiral and vice-admiral.
I earnestly urged the last congress to create
these positions. It authorized three of each.
Now American naval officers, while abroad, will
no longer be outranked by officers of nations
with insignificant navies.
I have answered your questions at some length.
There are two reasons for the length, of ray
letter:
1. Because these two years have been epoch
making in the navy, distinguished by more wise
and progressive naval legislation and more prac
tical achievement than any previous like period
(thanks chiefly to a patriotic congress), and
2. Because certain persons, Ignorant of their
Ignorance, and for selfish partisan reasons, havo
busied themselves with misrepresenting the true
condition of the navy, thereby causing some good
people to fear that the navy is not now, as in
the past, the strong, effective right arm of the
republic. All who would learn the truth may
be assured that the navy of 1915 is larger, bet
ter equipped and in better condition than in any
previous year, and that the fleet is becoming
more efficient with every passing month. "We
shall take leave to be strong upon the sea in the
future as in the past" declared President Wilson
in his message to congress; and In the Interest
of the self-respecting peace, which is the only
peace worth preparing for, it is devoutly to be
hoped that this strength may not be questioned
by others or endangered from within. The rec
ord above outlined shows that what he promised
for the navy has been fulfilled.
Sincerely yours,
JOSEPHUS DANIELS,
Secretary of the Navy.
Pan-America Endorses
Peace (Plan
At tho April meeting of tho Pan-Amorlca
Union tho following memorandum was presented
by Dr. Alberto Membreno, minister of Honduras,
and by tho union reforred to tho Latin-America
countries for their consideration:
MEMORANDUM OF THE MINISTER OF
HONDURAS
Presented by Dr. Alberto Membreno, minister
of Honduras, at tho April meeting of tho Pan
American Union.
Mr. Chairman:
While this committoo was appointed only for
tho purpose of submitting its recommendations
as to tho means to bo adoptdd to safeguard the
rights of noutrals, in view of tho European war,
I do not doom it amiss to suggest that a rulo bo
adopted tending to avoid armed conflicts. Be
foro trying to forestall tho evils of war wo must
endeavor to havo such a scourge disappear for
over from tho face of tho world.
Among tho wise provisions contained In tho
17th Haguo convention, thoro Is ono, In art, 9,
creating an international commission of Inquiry.
Unfortunately, this provision excludes from tho
remedy provided, disputes Involving either tho
honor or the vital interests of nations; In other
words, tho very cases In which tho services of
impartial parties are most needed to study tho
issue calmly. Experience shows that duels aro
not fought and duels aro serious questions of
honor among individuals when tho seconds ob
tain an explanation which Is satisfactory to tho
one who claims that an offense has been com
mitted demanding a blood satisfaction. Thoso
who discharge executive functions In tho gov
ernment of states are, so to speak, more strictly
under obligation to hear and to consider reasons
based on justice and expediency because, If It is
true that in war they run a certain amount of
personal risk, tho greatest sacrifice Is made by
tho people, and tho damage, as in tho prcstfnt in
stance, extends to all nations.
The government of tho United States, repre
senting the people of the United States a peo
ple who believe that tho prosperity of nations
results from work and not from tho extermina
tion, of thoso who in tho struggle for life aro
battling for victory has enhanced tho principle
set forth by tho authors of tho Hague conven
tion, In tho sense that the commission of Inquiry
may take cognizance of "all disputes of every
nature whatsoever."
This doctrine as amended is a part of tho
treaties lately concluded between the United
States and' almost, all of tho American nations,
as well as many European countries. We may,
therefore, embody it in international law.
I take the liberty of proposing that tho mem
bers of the governing board of the Pan-American
Union present to their respective govern
ments for their consideration tho following
rules:
I.
All disputes of every nature whatsoever
which it has not been possible to adjust through
diplomatic methods shall bo referred for in
vestigation and report to an international com
mission, and pending the full discharge of its
duties by said commission, the nations engaged
in the dispute can not declare war or begin hos
tilities against each other.
II.
This commission shall be a permanent one,
and may act on its own Initiative. In this case
it behooves the commission to serve duo noilco
to the parties In dispute, and to request their
co-operation In order to fully discharge its
duties.
III.
The number of members of which the com
mission shall consist, their qualifications, man
ner of appointment, place where the commission
shall sit, manner of procedure, and time for the
submission of its report, shall be fixed by treaty
or by any other method whereby the agreements
reached by the governments may have full force
and auth6rlty.
Washington, March 8, 1915.
(Signed) ALBERTO MEMBRENO.
PHRASE AND PARAPHRASE
"Laugh and tho world laughs with you; weep
and you weep alpno." Ella Wheeler Wilcor.
"Knit and the world knlte with you; darn
and you darn alone." Toledo Blade.
Laugh and your pa laughs with you; cry and
you cry with ma.