The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-12-10

sible to send submarines across the
Atlantic TO attack warships on the
american coast. In the event of war.
he said. all American battleships
available could be made ready for ac-
ton within week.
Secretary Daniels will apuear he
lore the committee tomorrow.
The examination today DEVELOPED
the admission that of seventeen sub
marines on the Atlantic coast includ-
ing Panama, five are detained on per-
manent station at the isthmus, four
are being overhauled at the Norfolk
navy yard. four are Just going into
the navy yards for repairs and three
are undergoing alterations by the CON
tractors as a result of defects found
aiter they were put in commission. In
cidentally. however. Admiral Fletcher
testified that all of these could be
made ready for service on short no.
tice.
Defensive Warfare.
Pressed to define what was meant
by defensive warfare, Admiral Fetch
er replied:
commerce on the ocean. Our navy
would 90 out to meet the enemy's
neet III the enemy should plant an
army. the defensive operation would
be TO repel the attack"
What is the purpose of having
this armament, these forty or forty
i've big warships that we have?" de-
manded Representative Butler of
Pennsylvania
/, To protect your interests and par
tlcularly your commercial interests on
the sea" replied Admiral Fletcher.
=, suppose We were called to defend the
p nonroe doctrine? suggested Chairman
very different than in defending our
own shores. would they notT'
lies; we would be operating under
admiral Conditions would be more
aiIiicult heoau>e OF operations far dts
DO you believe" asked Represent-
atlve Gray, that we at the present
time. should increase our navy 80 that
We could control the seas2''
see no necessity for adopting that
policy at the present time" replied the
Why then IL It necessary for us TO
have a navy 20 control the seas as
Could Not Answer.
. nat - very difficult and hypothe-
uc-ll question that Is not within my
province as a military man TO answer :
ADMIRAL Fletcher replied
We don't have To build against Eng
Gand. In your opinion suggested Mr..
That is right" was the admirars
What nations then. do you think. we
90 r nave 10 build against. and -
N me question was unfinished Chair
fadgett and several other members oh
Jscted- The chairman said he Thought
the question improper
. must be excused from answerIng
thaI question and would like TO have
u sttlhen out said the admiral
Mr.. Cray withdrew H.
replying 90 a question OF Representa-
I'VE Roberts Admiral Fletcher declared
maj even if foreign nation should
nav gun with a range Of one and a
halt miles greater than that of anv
american guns. New York city would
De protected from BON bardment by tbe
forts outside Of Sandy Hook ''
ordered Out OF Vera Cruz
. Mf hnp.fts suggested that "A IrnIfed
states senator whom he did not name
nad been quoted as saying thai me
American forces had been given "a hours
70 get out OF Vera Cruz By the Gar
iankn authOitics. Admiral FIetrbcr ..fd
he knew nothing OF any surb tn eSi,gr sara
The Admiral said the United STATE
had been behind the times In Inc 49,
vbment or AIR craft and subrn.rt,,.
mines. though he would not sev fb.f
a. 20 submarine. he thought N ,Voitid
Dc wise 90 have n liberal approprlation
lhls year for submarine mines aerisi
S t.. ang auxiliary weapons Of thar
Hepresentative Butler expross.d a.,
h"pe That the President ~ the tinted
states would take steps After The rs,,ro
ban VIZ ~ secure an international
skft cement Tor disarmament and eaid
lhat with that purpose in mind ia ,Vss
| contradictory Co continue c0nqfrricfi,,,,
OF great vessels OF deefrucfi,,,
uiltat itetchcr agreed that ft would A..
~ very opportunc time after the urar h,
EUROPE a. over to bring up thai e,,.gi
i"n the best opportunity We ever had