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112 DEVOTED TO EVERYTHING AND EVERY INTEREST - CONNECTED OR_ ASSO--- CIATED WITH MARINE MATTERS ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. Published monthly by Penton Publishing Co. ChEVEESND. BUPPALO. oo. oc. ecns: 932 Ellicott Square. CHICAGO sien. ese 1328 Monadnock Blk. CINCINNATI..... First National Bank Bldg. NEW: YORK eo. 00 3 0s 1005 West Street Bldg. PUT SBURGY Scie cee ea ies 510 Park Bldg. SHAT Os a Wess eu mares 942 Henry Bldg. Correspondence on Marine Engineering, Ship Building and Shipping Subjects Solicited. and Mexico, $1.00 per annum. Canada, $1.50. Foreign, $2.00. Single copies, U. S. and Mexico, 10 cents. 'Elsewhere, 15 cents. Back numbers over . three months, 25 cents. Subscription, U. S. Change of advertising copy must reach this office on or before the first of each month. The Cleveland News Co. will supply the trade with the Marine Review through the regular channels of the American News Co. oe European Agents, The International News Company, Breams Building, Chancery Lane, London, E. C., England. Entered at the Post Office at Cleveland, phe, as Second Class Matter. March, 1910 AFRAID TO INVESTIGATE. | Tue Marine Review has consistently opposed the program of naval expendi- tures and has protested over and over against the waste of funds for which the craze for naval supremacy and the inefficiency of our naval system is re- sponsible. In our December number, referring to the proposed 48-battleship program and taking the rate of pro- duction, growth and cost of the exist- ing fleet as an index, we said: "Sixteen years then would be required to produce what our experts consider to be our prime necessities. If the rate of increase in tonnage which has ob- tained in our own and foreign navies during 15 years, should be maintained, the final ship in 1926 would approxi- "mate 50,000 tons, The Marine REVIEW and the cost, even though the price per ton showed no in- crease, would approximate $25,000,000. Now these figures may be ridiculed by naval experts just as they have ridiculed others before only to prove their ac- curacy later, and it is sincerely to be hoped that they are excessive, but in view of the present ascendency and popularity of the navy, an attempt to carry out this program is not at ali un- likely... The average cost of the 48 ships then, would be about $18,000,000, or $864,000,000 for the two fleets which we must have, and this entirely independent of all other construction such as cruis- ers, torpedo boats, submarines, colliers, etc, and exclusive of the maintenance and operation of the department which already amounts to over $100,000,000 per year." It will be observed that in the. fore- going the figure of $500. per ton, which is derived from the average cost of the existing fleet, was used as a basis for Three elapsed since these figures were made estimate. months only have and already it is proposed to- bridge, one-third of the gap-between our pres- ship of 24,000 tons and the estimated prospective ship of 50,000 tons in 1926. His Excellency the Ku. Hon. Meyer, secretary of the navy, late em- bassador to Italy and Russia, late post- master general, late director in national ent largest authorized George . Von Lengerke 'banks and trust companies, and late di- rector in some of the largest and most successful manufacturing companies of New England, has suggested that congress authorize the building of a 32,000-ton battleship to cost $20,000,- 000. It will be observed at once that our estimate is CLC../ CtG. badly punctured and that it sadly needs revision in as much as the rate of $500 per ton is shown to. De" far too low, the latest figures working out at $625 per ton. To be sure; there is scarcely a= re- note possibility that congress will give the Hon. George Von Lengerke Meyer anything of the kind just now, but the request proves that which we have so frequently said and more. It proves, if any proof were needed, that the demand first made by THe Marine Review and reiterated by the able author of "Nayal Reorganization" in our February num- for an investigation of the ber, navy March, 1919 cepartment from the Hon. George Von Lengerke Meyer downward by a ciyil- ian and non-congressional commission -- of business men is urgent. But it wil] not be done. THE DeEpaRTMENT Dare Not. Face It AND Concress Dare Nop Orver It. The department knows, and- congress is afraid of, what would be uncovered. Secretary Newberry started eonethine and the whole naval coterie immediately went into convulsions. They were scared, and at the earliest possi- ble moment the Hon. George Von Len- gerke Meyer brought the proceedings to a full stop and took steps to cover _the whole mess over and clamp on the lid. ganization is. That is all that the Meyer reor- The merely the words put into the secre- reorganization is tary's mouth by the line organization. Let no one suppose that it is the prod- uct of the secretary's own brain. It is nothing of the kind. In commercial life, when a concern needs a head for its working organiza- tion, a selection is made from men possessing a knowledge of the business, When the United States wants a head for the department of all others need- ing a special training, it selects a man who knows nothing about it. Pres- ident Roosevelt had in Secretary New- berry the only incumbent of the office who by temperament, business training, taste and experience was fitted for the position. The result was inevitable and was discounted a year ago. It was necessary that a secretary should be had who did not know so much and who would be guided by the line officers, those gallant swivel chair sailors who are busy trying to fix shore berths for themselves, and in the Hon. George Von Lengerke Meyer the proper plastic ma- terial was found. THe Marine Review again urges an investigation. Let us pry the lid off and get things sorted out before the miserable mass blows itself to pieces, possibly at a time when the eyes of the country are turned hopefully towards its tin navy, hoping it may justify its existetice, Is We There are signs that members of congress are AFRAID? know tHE Navy Department Is. CONGRESS becoming alarmed over national expendi- tures. If they want to make a start at reduction they will strike pay dirt in the navy department the instant that