Слике страница
PDF
ePub

settled, must be placed out of commission or used for trade. In replacing units of the seagoing fleet it is laid down that vessels built shall not exceed 10,000 tons for armored ships, 6000 tons for light cruisers, 800 tons for destroyers, and 200 tons for torpedo-boats, and unless ships be lost no Ersatz battleship or cruiser can be built until the vessel it replaces is 20 years old, and, in the case of destroyers and torpedo-boats, 15 years from the date of launching.

The personnel of the German Navy, including land staff and officers, must not exceed 15,000, and there must not be more than 1500 officers and warrant officers.

All other German warships which are not in German ports cease to be German, and vessels interned are regarded as being finally given up, and warships under construction shall be broken up under the supervision of the Allies.

One clause, which, as already stated, is subject to reservation, provides that the following ships, with all guns aboard, shall be sunk:

Battleships.-Oldenburg, Thuringen, Ostfriesland, Helgoland, Posen, Westfalen, Rheinland, Nassau.

Light Cruisers.-Stettin, Danzig, München, Lübeck, Strassburg, Augsburg, Kolberg, Stuttgart.

Forty-two modern destroyers and 50 modern torpedo-boats.

All auxiliary cruisers are to be disarmed and treated as merchant ships. All submarines, submarine salvage vessels, submarine docks, including the Kiel tubular dock, will be handed over. Here, again, there is a reservation as to what shall be done with these craft. The material derived from the breaking up of the German warships must not be sold to foreign countries and can only be used for industrial purposes. Germany is forbidden to buy warships from abroad, or to buy or construct submarines even for commercial purposes. Naval war material, including such things as mines and torpedoes, will be fixed by the Allies, and all stocks in excess of those limits must be surrendered. Germany will be called upon to sweep certain areas free of mines.

The principle of voluntary service is also applied to the navy and petty officers, and men must serve a minimum period of 12 years. There is the same stipulation as to the length of service of officers as figures in the military terms. There is a provision forbidding the war training of officers and men of the mercantile marine.

In drafting the naval terms the necessity of obtaining free access for all nations to the Baltic has been borne in mind, and Germany will be called upon to demolish the fortifications commanding the passages to the Baltic and to place its hydrographical information with regard to the channels between the Baltic and the North Sea at the disposal of the Associated Government. The coastal defences and fortifications on German islands within 50 kilometers of the German coast will be treated as defences, and there is a stipulation that no fresh fortifications are to be constructed within these limits.

There is a provision prohibiting the use of wireless high-power stations for naval, military, and political messages without the consent of the Allied Governments.

The fate of the Kiel Canal has not yet been settled, nor has that of Germany's submarine cables.

With regard to Heligoland, the clause dealing with which is also subject to reservation, it has been pointed out that the destruction of the harbor and Heligoland might entail suffering to the fishing fleets which find refuge there in bad weather, and this question is still to be disposed of.-London Times, 3/20.

UNITED STATES

NAVY DEPARTMENT-BUREAU OF CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR VESSELS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, UNITED STATES NAVY-DEGREE OF COMPLETION, MARCH 31, 1919

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

There are 195 destroyers, 71 submarines, 20 mine sweepers, 19 sea-going tugs, 35 harbor tugs, 12 oil tankers and 53 Ford eagles in various stages of completion.

MATÉRIEL

NAVAL BUILDING PROGRAM. In advance of the return to Washington of the Secretary of the Navy and the bureau chiefs who accompanied him on his European trip of observation, the naval general board is giving its attention to the new naval building program. The failure of the 65th Congress to enact a naval appropriation bill with its authority for the construction of new ships of course necessitates the reconsideration of the measure and its provision for new construction when the 66th Congress shall meet in extra session. By that time it will be known to what extent the proposed league of nations will impose a limitation upon armaments. It may be expected

as a certainty that Congress will be promptly, if not eagerly, responsive to any suggestion contained in the league of nations covenant permitting the suspension of the building of fighting ships. It becomes a question at once, therefore, whether Congress will authorize the construction of more than the six battle cruisers which were authorized in 1916, and upon which construction, with the exception of the machinery, was suspended during the war to permit progress on the destroyers. It has been anticipated by the naval authorities that Congress would consent to additions to this number in view of the unquestioned value of the type in modern warfare. Then, it must be decided whether the ten battleships included in the program in the bill of the last session shall be battleships of the dreadnought type or the advanced type which approaches the battle cruiser. It is bound to be the occasion of an interesting discussion before the naval committees where, as usual, there is destined to be a difference of opinion among members encouraged, perhaps, as too frequently occurs, by failure to agree upon types and other details of design among the naval experts themselves. That, indeed, has always been one of the handicaps in the matter of obtaining prompt congressional approval of any departmental plan for naval fleet expansion. Naval committee members have been quick to take advantage of this situation and to insist, by way of defence for their inaction or procrastination, that they can hardly be expected to reach conclusions upon highly technical questions when the naval authorities carry their controversies on the subject to the Capitol for ventilation. The enlightenment of committees, which might be argued in justification of this proceeding, has the opposite effect frequently of providing an excuse for doing nothing. -Army and Navy Register, 4/5.

A FLEET FOR THE PACIFIC.-There will probably be during the next year a Pacific, as well as an Atlantic fleet; certainly, there will be a division of the present naval force between the two oceans or a division of time of one big fleet between the Atlantic and the west coast. If there are two commands of considerable dimensions, respectively, there will be an exchange of visits periodically and a program of joint maneuvers at least annually. The people on the west coast have been insistent upon this and the sentiment and desire have been growing with the increase in the number of the fighting vessels. Of course, nothing has been said during the war, when it was realized that the available ships were necessarily employed in the war zone or held in readiness for assignment to duty abroad. Now, with the cessation of hostilities, the request from the west coast is likely to be renewed in stronger terms than ever, especially as there is apprehension in that quarter of the unfriendly, or at least suspicious, activities of the Japanese. In that connection it is interesting to learn that the State Department has formally announced its intention to thoroughly investigate the persistent rumors of Japanese acquisition of a naval base in Southern California through some sort of secret treaty with the Mexican Government. Significance is imparted to the incident largely from the unusual circumstance of the official admission of the purpose of the State Department, since, ordinarily, such an action would be conducted with as little publicity as possible. However, with or without a Japanese "war scare," that usually makes its appearance about the time the naval appropriation bill is reported from committee, there will be a determination to have a formidable and permanent representation of naval power on the west coast, while the presence of Senator Poindexter of Washington, as chairman of the Senate naval committee in the 66th Congress, will be a direct and positive contribution to that end. For the first time in many years the west coast will have an important "say" in the deliberations of a naval committee of Congress and, as in the old days, New England, and more recently, southern influence has affected legislation, so it may be expected that west coast influence will do something more than hitherto for the navy yards on the Pacific coast and toward having a fleet in that ocean.-Army and Navy Register, 4/5.

PERSONNEL

GAIN IN NAVAL ENLISTMENTS.-First enlistments in the navy showed a marked gain during February. Although the shortest month there was a total of over 7000 recruits for the naval service. Of these, 5812 were made in this country, mainly at recruiting stations, as compared with 5007 during January, a net gain of 715. Over 400 of the men shipped in February had seen creditable service in the army or marine corps. As we have stated in these columns a large majority of recruits are youngsters, over 68 per cent of the newcomers in February being under 19 years of age. In addition to the recruits obtained in this country, a large force of ex-soldiers comprising the Philippine army were enlisted in the messman branch at Manila. The first 1000 were enlisted in a few days, and an excellent start has been made on the second thousand of the quota assigned the station. These Filipinos have had military training that will make them a valuable adjunct to the navy, and their services are in demand in the messman ratings throughout the fleet. The steady demobilization of the naval reserve force necessitates the enlistment of a considerable force of regulars within the next few months to meet the absolute requirements of the navy afloat, and even with the satisfactory gains made during the past month the navy promises to have a serious problem on its hands to fully man all the vessels which will await crews during the coming summer.—Army and Navy Register, 3/22.

NAVAL PERSONNEL SITUATION.-The naval authorities have been discussing the naval personnel situation in anticipation of Secretary Daniels' return from Europe when it is expected that he will consider the subject in its relation to the departmental recommendations to the 66th Congress. One of the subjects to be taken up at the beginning of the extra session, which must be called before July first, will be the naval appropriation bill, which failed of enactment in the 65th Congress. That measure will, of course, contain a provision for naval personnel, and it is believed that Mr. Daniels will renew the recommendations he made at the last session without material modification or amendment. He will be supported by the present chief of the Bureau of Navigation, Rear Admiral Victor Blue, in the view that an enlisted strength of 137,000 will be sufficient to meet the needs of the navy, especially with the transfer to the shipping board of the vessels used in the homeward transportation of soldiers from Europe and the release of personnel employed in that service. There was a difference of opinion and some lively exchange of sentiment among the naval authorities and the Secretary of the Navy in regard to the enlisted strength when that subject was before the naval committee of the late Congress. It is expected that there will be greater unanimity hereafter and that Congress will not authorize a strength of more than the departmental program in this particular. Nor will there be any radical change in the plan for providing a commissioned personnel. The sentiment in Congress will not be in favor of making special arrangements to this end, beyond the authority to absorb into the regular establishment 700 temporary and reserve officers for the line with a proportionate number for the staff; 500 officers of the flying corps, of whom 250 will be kept on flying duty and 250 will be prepared for line duty; and 300 of the older warrant officers with provisions for their promotion up to the grade of lieutenant commander. Then Secretary Daniels will renew his recommendation for an extension of the principle of promotion by selection to all grades of line and staff of the navy and marine corps, upon which proposal action was not taken by the House naval committee at the last session. At that time it was felt that promotion by selection was sufficiently in vogue and that there was doubtful wisdom in extending it. Mr. Daniels, however, is firmly convinced that the system is meritorious and, if extended, will be productive of the best results in personnel efficiency. He also believes that the ensigns

at the end of the three-year period in that grade should be competitively examined for promotion to the grade of lieutenant, junior grade, leaving the latter grade the only one from which advancement to the next higher grade will be by seniority alone. There are, however, some objections to this proposed examination of the ensigns. It is pointed out, for one thing, that officers of this grade are apt, in many instances, not to have found themselves until later on in their career; on the other hand, it is insisted that the competitive examination will keep the ensigns keyed up to a standard of fitness which otherwise they may be prone to ignore. An additional objection, which is apt to have more influence, arises from the difficulty of conducting so many examinations as will be necessary in the course of a year in all parts of the world constituting an administrative situation that may be successfully urged against Mr. Daniels' plan in this particular. Army and Navy Register, 4/5.

FIXING NUMBER OF NAVAL OFFICERS.-It need surprise no one in the navy or marine corps if a proposition is made in the naval committee of the next Congress to repeal existing law which provides for automatic increase in the number of commissioned officers of all grades and branches, and a return to the old method of maintaining a fixed number in each grade of line and staff, to be changed only by special authorization of Congress. There is objection expressed by some committee members to the system which bases the strength of commissioned personnel upon the number of enlisted men, despite what these critics admit is a plausible argument in its favor. It is evidently felt that advantage may be taken of this arrangement to create too many officers and to furnish special and extraordinary opportunities for adding to the number of commissioned officers. There is also a very well defined notion in the same quarter that the present sources of officers will be sufficient for the purpose of the service, considering the reserve personnel and the graduates of the Naval Academy. Indeed, there is a feeling that more should be done for the reservists in the way of promotion and in a provision for transfer to the permanent establishment. On the other hand, no such change is contemplated by the Navy Department and the proposition is not likely to receive the support of the Secretary of the Navy if he has an opportunity to pass upon it. It is certain to incur the opposition of the naval authorities, whose view in the matter is destined to have much weight with the conservative element in Congress.-Army and Navy Register, 4/5.

OPERATIONS.

SUBMARINE CHASERS ORDERED TO ALASKA FOR PATROL WORK.—Acting Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt authorizes the following:

Under the direction of the Navy Department a detachment of four submarine chasers has been ordered to Alaskan waters. The chasers will be accompanied by the gunboat Vicksburg, which will be the mother ship of the detachment, with two chasers operating at all times, two being held in

reserve.

These vessels have been ordered to leave the navy yard, Puget Sound, about April 1, 1919, and to proceed to Juneau, Alaska, from which port they will operate until navigation closes.

Duty of Detachment.-This detachment will have on board fish wardens of the Department of Commerce, and have orders to cooperate with the officials of the Department of Commerce, the Treasury Department, and the Department of the Interior in enforcing law in Alaskan waters, rendering assistance to shipping and natives in distress.

The coast-guard cutters Unalga and Bear, operating under the direct orders of the commodore commandant, United States Coast Guard, pursuant to general instructions of the Navy Department, will also operate in Alaskan waters from about April 20 to October 1. The patrol by these coast-guard cutters is similar to that which has been maintained by the United States Coast Guard for several years past.-Official Bulletin, 3/24.

« ПретходнаНастави »