Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-04-12
HOW MR.. DANIELS
INSPECTION
Secretary of Navy and Other
Cabinet Members
Have Thrills.

. osEpHUs DANIELS. secretary

TOsEPHUs DANIELS. secretary
of the navy. had the first look VI
o. bis ships recently at the south
ern drill grounds, Old Point
Comfort. Va. FIe slept on hoard the
flagship Wyoming with a high opinion
of the magnitude OF bis now job and
a much better idea of just what be Is
secretary of than he eve thought was
possible.
Not only has Mr.. Daniels been to
sea, but he has been in battle. For
twenty minutes he stood up under the
terrific yellow blast from the Wyo-
ming's twelve twelye-inch guns and
watched the white geysers as the shells
r~icocheted around the target nearly
six miles away. He admitted that the
firing. while 1t closed his ears, opened
his eyes to the magnitude and eff.
cheney Of the United States navy. 1t is
suspected that Mr.. Daniels is a big
navy man or will be.
Even Postmaster General Burleson,
who was one Of the chief opponents OF
a large navy when. in congress. is be-
ginning to think things over, and the
officers of the fleet are well pleased
with the days work. Mr.. Daniels is
not the kind of secretary Of the navy
the men OF the service are used to-.
The Wyoming carries an imposing bat.
terry of twelve twelve-inch rifles. hut
not twice this number fired In a single
salvo could make Mr.. Daniels wear a
high hat. He salutes the dag like IN
American citizen aud shakes hands
like a grownnp man, but he calls the
starboard side OF a ship the right aud
refers to the bow as the front, vet no
one thought TO criticise him for that.
He seems to belong on board just the
same.
Guns Roar Welcome.
The secretary came oyer the side of
the Wyoming as she lay In Lynn Haven
Roads at half past 8 o'clock IN the
morning. He wore a long cutaway
coat. the same striped trousers he
wore at Democratic headquarters last
fall aud a small gray cap pulled well
down on his forehead. He dragged the
cap off as he was handed aboard by
Captain Frederick L. Chaplin of the
Wyoming aud received by Rear Ad
miral Charles j, Badger. commander
in chief of the feet, and his staff, He
put out his hand and said "Hellor'
Rear Admiral Badger had a nice little
speech prepared, but he cut II down to
Hello, Mr.. Secretary" and then tue
guns roared out their nineteenfold
greeting. The ceremonies were over.
Behind Mr.. Daniels came Secretaries
McAdoo, Wilson. Houston and Lane.
Postmaster General Burleson. Secre-
tary McAdoo's two young sons and
Robert Martin, his secretary; Rear Adj
miral N. C. Twinlng and Rear Admiral
Bradley G. Fiske. BY this time the
salute was finished, and Mr.. Daniels
put his cap back on his head and start
ed IN to see just what there is to the
navy.
When Secretary Daniels left the Dol.
phin. on board which he went down
to the capes from Washington, the
women of the party. who included Mrs.
Daniels. Mrs. Burleson. Miss Nina Nc
Adoo, Miss Eleanor Wilson. Mrs. w
b. Wilson and Miss Bones, left the
Dolphin on board another cutter aud
were taken aboard the Idaho. which
followed the firing ships. The secre-
tary thought it best for the women TO
be aboard a ship which was not going
to FIRE. but would witness the firing
from a safe distance.
The battleships got under way for
the drill grounds Immediately, the wy,
oming leading. followed by the Flor.
ida. the North Carolina and the Idaho.
Five miles off the capes the Delaware,
which had just come down from the
Boston navy yard. was sighted and
turned into the column, n poor fourth.
MI. Daniels Surprised.
Secretary Daniels party took to the
bridge to watch the work of naviga-
ton. Later they inspected the engine
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