Needs

Admiral Robert E. Coontz, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet, drew up a report on the Winter maneuvers (TIME, Jan. 28) which was a list of deficiencies:

P: Eight of the older battleships need to have the angles of fire of their main batteries increased, so that they may compete in range with British and Japanese vessels.

P: Auxiliary ships with increased speed must be developed, because these ships now constrain the fleet to a speed of less than 10 knots. only ship of its type now belonging to the Navy.

P: The naval air force must be in-

P: Fleet submarines must be constructed, because the present submarines are obsolete and inferior in speed, cruising radius, ventilation.

P: More aircraft carriers must be built in addition to the Langley which is the

creased. (The Langley, built to carry 58 planes, had actually only six at the maneuvers.)

P: Improved catapults must be constructed for launching aeroplanes from the decks of battleships and cruisers since the present ones proved ineffective.

P: Four battleships having defective boilers ought to be converted into oil burners, and provision ought to be made in future for periodic reboilering of all ships.

P: Destroyer leaders are badly needed, because the use of ordinary destroyers by squadron commanders greatly reduces effectiveness.

P: Mines in greater nunrbers are needed, since the present supply is small and obsolete.

P: Minesweepers are lacking in sufficient numbers and mine-sweeping gear is inadequate.

P: The anti-aircraft batteries of the older ships are incomplete and need enlargement -- especially because of the shortage of aircraft and aircraft carriers.

P: Double radio equipment is needed on aircraft carriers and flagships which must undertake several kinds of communication simultaneously.

P: Ships of several types should 'be built to fill up serious gaps in the fleet; notable among the types of ships of which none were at hand when the Fleet arrived at Panama were light cruisers, store ships, destroyer tenders, colliers, tugs, seaplanes, repair ships, lighter-than-air craft and miscellaneous auxiliaries.

P:In general the entire fleet requires maintenance and repair measures which have been too long delayed because of insufficient appropriations.

After this extensive list of deficiencies, the best thing the ordinary landsman can find to say about the fleet is, "Well, it floats." Secretary of the Navy Wilbur took pains, however, to point out that in Admiral Coontz's report there was nothing but praise for the personnel of the Navy. As for the shortage of material, the Secretary pointed out that the needs had long been known and were being remedied as quickly as appropriations permitted.

Three resolutions were introduced in Congress, by Senator King of Utah, by Representative Britten of Illinois, by Representative J. J. Rogers of Massachusetts, calling on the Navy Department for detailed information on the strength of the Navy.