They are more necessary now than ever to stand by the captain and officers of a ship of war in case of mutiny among a set of foreign sailors whom we have no right to expect will be true to the flag under all circumstances. I have also in my hand statistics sent here by the Navy Department showing that there are now serving in the United States Navy only 3.668 natives of the United States as against 4.278 persons of foreign birth. The bill does not aim to enlist only those who are nativeborn. but it proposes to adopt the strong recommendation made by the Secretary of the Navy this year. that we shall hereafter enlist only natives or those who have been naturalized or have declared their intention to become citizens. and thus shown their loyalty to our Government. Of the 4.278 foreigners now in the Navy there may be a small percentage who have been naturalized. and the bill will not affect them. but as a general rule the foreigners who enlist in our Navy come directly from foreign merchant ships or foreign navies and owe our flag no allegiance. I submit the following as telling facts on this question: The report of the present Secretary of the Navy is very full and emphatic on this question of the enlistment of aliens. He calls attention to this evil in the following language: "z ELSTD MEN. "Of equal importance with the construction of suitable vessels is the creation of an efficient personnel.
Identified stereotypes
Foreign sailors are not loyal to the flag.