To Improve The Navy.

New York Times 100 years ago today, January 8, 1913:
    The officers of the Navy League of the United States are circulating for signatures a petition to Congress urging legislation to reorganize the personnel of the navy, to secure both economy and larger efficiency in the service, and for the establishment of a continuing and consistent programme of naval construction, to be determined by a Council of National Defense, duly authorized by Congress. It is explained, in regard to the first reform urged by the petitioners, that young naval officers are now kept too long in subordinate positions, while on the other hand, fleet commanders are often retired too early for the good of the service. The alternative, it seems, must be a sort of weeding-out process looking to advancement for fitness only.
    The petition contains sixty-seven reasons why we should have a strong navy, and all are good. The navy, which is our main defense, has 21,000 miles of coast line to defend. This coast line includes more harbors with large cities and a larger number of strategic points than any other navy has to defend. To enforce the Monroe Doctrine and preserve the neutrality of the Panama Canal we must have warships, while our outlying possessions must be protected. The earliest signers of the petition are Gen. Horace Porter Col. Robert M. Thompson, the Rev. Dr. Lyman Abbott, John Wanamaker, Carter Harrison Fitzhugh, R. A. Long, Henry White, and Perry Belmont. The document deserves respectful attention. Any movement looking to the betterment of our means of National defense not only deserves encouragement, but sadly needs it.