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Show oo I POLITICS IN ARMY AND NAVY. On the subject of American preparedness pre-paredness for war. the secretary of I the Navy League has sent out a letter let-ter in which the following statements are made: "It has been said that the army's efficiency could be Increased 60 per cent with a saving of 30 per cent if the consolidation of arm posts, doing do-ing away with political posts could be brought about This needed reform re-form will not be brought about by act of Congress until the people of the country study tho needs of the arm.v and give needed support to the recommendations of Secretaries of War and the General Staff of the Army Similar economies can be effected in tho nay with 0 View to increased strength and efficiency, but ; will not be brought about until the American people as a whole give the matter their consideration No doubt politics has played a large part In placing army posts where they servo no good purpose and this 1 win not be corrected by politicians un I til the people demand a change. ( The same misuse is made of the navy. When there was a poisiblllt of a clash with Japan, and President Roosevelt had started the battleship 1 fleet around the world, there cam r a tremendous demand from Atlanti l . supply ports that the fleet be returned as soon as possible, although the H nlace of duty of the gTeat warships I was in the Pacific The appeal (if i the shopkeepers, aided by political rtrcssure prevailed and the ships were gent back to cruise in the Atlantic. a There Is not a branch of our gov- r ernment that is not Influenced by r tho same forces of business and poll- tics, and all this must be corrected If our army and navy are to gam n in efficiency except at great cost c |