Salt Lake Telegram | 1916-02-13 | Page 29 | Back from Cruise U. S. Warships Are Praised

BAGI FROM CRUISE U. U US U.S. S. S S WARSHIPS S ARE ARE PRAISED NEW EW YORK Feb 12 Frank Frank Julian Sprague chairman of ot the the committee on electricity and shipbuilding of ot the United States naval consulting board has bas just returned after a cruise with the Atlantic fleet fr from m this port to Guantanamo Cuba Sprague expressed ent enthusiasm over his experiences particularly particularly particularly par par- as to the personnel of ot the tile fleet He lie stopped at Washington on his his' way home to pay his respects to the secretary of the navy naw and later will make a brief briet report to the department embodying some of ot the conclusions at which he has arrived after atter seeing the vessels of ot the navy in actual practice Sprague took the trip at the invitation invitation invitation tion of Captain Hugh Rodman flodman in command command command com com- mand of ot the dreadnought New York an Invitation that Secretary Daniels heartily seconded when it was called to his attention Mr Sprague was a naval officer before taking up his life work In electricity He lie was the first officer to urge the adoption of ot electricity on shipboard shipboard shipboard ship ship- board in the naval establishment Admiral Fletcher on board the flagship flagship flagship flag flag- ship Wyoming commanded the fleet neet when it steamed for forthe the South on January January January Jan Jan- uary 6 It comprised fifteen battleships eighteen destroyers and colliers and repair repair re repair re re- re pair ships People generally wonder what the officers and men men do when afloat said Sprague I can tell you they work worle We Ve had two weeks at sea and there were drills up to 10 o'clock at night I IThe The purpose of ot the tile cruises such as this is to carry Jut ut a a 3 series of battle maneuvers maneuvers ma ma- as between two parts of the fleet in which problems of surprise and attack are worl worked 6 l out as though in actual warfare Then there ar are drills on all the tile ships Target practice is always in order We had that at Culebra Puerto Rico nico and Guan Guan- The whole thing was to me rue an in in- in Naval vessels of the pr present sent day must be so large to accommodate the necessary armament meat and accessorIes accessories ies that there Is found plenty of ot room to give men as well as officers Improved improved Im in- proved quarters and in every way there is the tile best of ot feeling on board I 1 am much impressed with the personnel of the pavy It could not be better belter Sprague said ho had devoted his first week in investigation his second in ob observation observation observation ob- ob and his third In tion When asked if he lie could discuss of his conclusions he said his po position position po- po any forbade him making a statement I only say that I saw a great deal dealto can I r be believe be- be experience and my to commend results some e effective lieve promises some following following- my study of ot electrical steerIng steer steer- practice and target Ing gunnery dramatic occasions in the One of the of the tile cruise was on January history 28 For the first time In the naval the United States there was wasI of t service the Texas and the New NewYork NewYork NewYork firing by I salvo York of their ten Inch 14 guns under Among Amons his other pho- pho director control Jhn i or a u u u I 6 i. i e obtained one of the tile four guns in Sprague the forward turrets of ot the New York In in iii action under these conditions On tho tile question of ot preparedness Mr Sprague expressed these views The people have got to realize reaUze that any steps in the way of preparedness must be taken at once It is treasonable treasonable treasonable treason treason- able to make this tIlis a question of politics or of local interest A Vessel for which we pay ought to be as perfect perfect per per- feet as we can mako make her The navy as the first line of ot defense has got to be he prepared to go o a long vay way oft off shore and be ready for offense as well as defense defense de de- de Cense and the ships must be until tho the last minute to io fight at sea