The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-04-15

IT OSEPHUS DANIELS, secretary
of the navy, had the first look at
~ his ships recently at the south
ern drill! grounds. Old Point
Comfort, Va. He slept on hoard the
flagship Wyoming with a high opinion
of the magnitude of his new job and
much better idea of just what he is
secretary of than he ever 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-
mings twelve twelve-inch guns and
watched the white geysers as the shells
ricocheted around the target nearly
six miles away. He admitted that the
firing. while it 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
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, but
not twice this number fired in a single
salvo could make Mr.. Daniels wear q
high hat. He salutes the flag like an
like a grownup man, but he calls the
starboard side of ship the right and
refers to the bow as the front, yet nc
one thought to criticise him for that
He seems to belong on board just the
same.
Guns Roar Welcome.
The secretary came over the side OF
the Wyoming as she lay in Lynn Haven
Roads at half past o'clock in the
morning. He wore a long cutaway
coat, the same striped trousers he
wore at Democratic headquarters last
fall and small gray cap pulled well
down on his forehead. He dragged the
zap off as he was handed aboard by
Captain Frederick L. Chaplin Of the
Wyoming and received by Rear Ad
miral Charles j. Badger, commander
in chief of the fleet, and his staff. He
put out his hand and said "Hellon'
Rear Admiral Badger had a nice little
speech prepared, but he cut it down to
guns roared out their nineteenfold
greeting. The ceremonies We're 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 Ad
miral N. G. Twining 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 and
were taken aboard the Idaho, which
followed the firing ships. The secre
tary thought it best for the women tC
be aboard a ship which was not going
to fire, but would witness the firing
from safe distance.
The battleships got under way fol
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 an6
turned into the column, a poor fourth
Mr., Daniels Surprised.
Secretary Daniels party took to the
bridge to watch the work of naviga
ton. Later they inspected the engine
room the quarters, fire rooms, bunkers
and other parts Of the ship. Mr.. Dan
sOOOeOsOSOSOOssSSSssssssss
| NnIIMN TRIooM An tAuIrnr0n