Show United States Needs i Four Vi Vice e Admirals ls to Command Its Fleets j i y y V JOSEPHUS D DANIELS NIELS Secretary I of the Navy HE necessity for vice admirals T THE I is recognized by every navy in inthe the world except our own Every nation in the world except the French and ourselves have five or more admirals and eleven or more vice admirals and it is not nots s something that should c cause au s e h surprise for the secretary of the o J a na navy vy to ask for K- K J ate 1 FOUR V VICE ICE ADM ADMIRALS I R ALS TO COMMAND OUR FLEETS I Indeed the surprise sur- sur i. i pride prise e is t that hat congress has not heretofore ere ere- ere ere- O e by American Press Association vice ad- ad I believe the reasons are so strong that when presented to the naval committee the recommendation tion will meet with approval The very words rear admiral were coined to designate the subordinate subordinate subordinate sub sub- ordinate division commander in the rear w who o was called upon only when the admiral or vice admiral found need of his assistance In other navies an admiral commands the fleet a a vice admiral commands a squadron and a rear admiral a division We have always put officers cers in the third grade position to handle first grade work and that it has ants been well handled is s due to the FORCE AND STRENGTH OF OUR COMMANDER IX IN CHIEFS CHIEF'S PERSONALITY despite the lack of the assi assistance tance that title and recognized recognized rec rec- d rank would g give ve him THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ATLANTIC FLEET IS RESPONSIBLE RESPONSIBLE RESPONSIBLE RE RE- FOR THE SAFETY OF TWENTY THOUSAND OFFICERS fI fIAND AND MEN AND TWO HUNDRED HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS' DOLLARS WORTH OF SHIPS COMMANDERS IN CHIEF OF OUR PACIFIC AND ASIATIC FLEETS HAVE HEAVY RESPONSIBILITIES AND WE NEED THE GRADE OF VICE ADMIRAL NOT ONLY FOR THE PRECEDENCE PRECEDENCE PRECEDENCE PRECE PRECE- DENCE BUT pUT ALSO BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY NEED THEM FOR THE THEMORE THEMORE THEMORE MORE EFFICIENT COMMAND At present vessels of three of our fleets are in positions where it would be he greatly to our advantage to have vice admirals in command It is is quite conceivable that a vice admiral might be ne needed ded in another quarter at the same time and to repeat the necessity for higher rank for officers hi n command is recognized recognized rec ree- by every nation in the world but our own |