THE YANKEE NAVY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2131, 22 May 1920, Page 1

THE YANKEE NAVY.

Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the U.S. Navy, has, says the Christchurch Sun, emerged in his true colours at last. During the war he was one with Wilson, Baker and Sims in sentiment. He greatly desired (he averred) that Germany should be crushed. It seems that this man Daniels was at heart as bitter an Anglophobe as W. IL Hearst. Externally, he teas heart and soul with the Entente. In thought, he “would as soon light the British as the Central PoAvers.’’ So Daniels reveals himself as a choice kind.of hypocrite and a liar. In addition he is a crank —a smugly pious crank —as avc know. It Avas a brilliant idea of his to stop the Navy's grog, and at the same time to prohibit the men from using bad language. Daniels intended that the American naval men should he pure in Avord and thought; a contrast to the vulgar plug-chew-ing vigorous. - spoken Britisher. Which suggests that Daniels hostility to Britain may be ba,sed on moral grounds. He probably read of the army that swore terribly in Flanders (or words to that effect), and determined that, as a good American, he could not decently regard Britain as safe or dignified company. Whatever his feelings on this point, his high official position gives his endorsement of Admiral Benson’s insulting remarks a significance which can scarcely be OA'erlooked in DoAvning Street. I nless, of course, Lloyd George treats this raucous: Yankee as beneath contempt. As for America 'lighting either Britain or Germany—she Avould have had as much chance of beating the one or the other oft: her oavu bat as a cockchafer would have of slopping a huzz-saAv. The American Navy is a useful sort of Avar machine, it is true, but it is certainly not the last word in blue-water scientific efficiency. It doesn’t mailer much, in any case, it was-for-tunate for the Allies that Wilson Avas in charge of- America at the critical period; not Daniels, Benson or Hearst. Wilson might have been 100 much of an idealist; at least he Avas honest and*' straightforward. Sims, good tighter and all that he is,

may not have been ahvays discreet in his,oft-repeated praise of the British Navy and his sly digs'at the American system. But his record both before and in the Avar entitles his opinions to the most careful consideration. H was Sims avlio, prompted by Admiral Percy Scott, revolutionised shooting in the United Slates fleet. He Avas as masterful then as he is hoav; Avhich did not add to liis popularity with (he heads of the service. Sims’ niilial offence in the bilious eyes of brother Daniels is that he was a big success as the ally of the British Admiralty, and because of that Avas loaded with honours by the nation he had- lent such invaluable service. There Avere feAV or no bouquets for Daniels, and Daniels is (he type of official avlio is fond of flattering attention. So “we would as soon fight the British as the Central PoAvers!” Daniels ought to try his prentice hand on something easy, like Mexico, before entering the* journeyman class. And, if he cannot he civil, let him restrain his tongue until he can think rational! v.