The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-17
TO BROADEN
NAVAL HEARING FAILS
Committee Rejects Attempt by
HobSon to Have Other OFF,
Gals Called in Inquiry.

Efforts to throw the House Naval
Committee wide open for more investi-
cation of the subject of naval prepared
ness were defeated today by a vote of s
to I. Congressman Hob5on sought to
have the President Of the Naval War
College invited; other Representatives
Joined IN with requests for calling Cap
tains SimIns, in charge OF target prac-
tee; David Starr Jordan. John Bassett
Moore and others
The committee, however, decided TO
conclude with the hearing of Rear Ad-
miral Ffske today and a brief session
with Congressman Gardner tomorrow.
In opening his testimony Admiral
FYske Explained that he believed in
having a navy. sufficiently large In num-
bers and personnel to protect our
coasts In case OF attack this nation
would havo to get control of the seas.
In line OF such control. he explained
the necessity for mines and submarines
along the coast
Naming Nations Barred
With the subject verg1ng on the mat
ter of a possible conflict with Japan.
Chairman Padgett called an abrupt
halt to naming any nation IN discussing
strategy.
w neither We COCld Ldke 3OOuldIiIlcS 10
Japan is doubtful" Fiske had said In
reply to questions.
II don't think We had better name
any nation" interpolated Padgett, and
the committee sustained him.
Ffske then turned TO an explanation
Of the subject OF mine laying.
We have the San Francisco for such
work." he said. She could lay 336
Mines Then he added that she Is not
now on mine laying duty and that there
will be no more mines or mine layers
available for two or three months.
Congressman Bulker. Republican, in
terrupted with peremptory objection to
such disclosures of weakness.
Il don't think we should make such
public ne sharply remind
ed the chairman. He was not sus-
tained, however, and Fiske proceeded.
Later, however. the admiral requested
that this number be stricken from the
record. He recommended that this ma
ton should have at least five mine lay
ers, the number he said Germany has.
Gardner Starts To Leave.
Padgett interrupted with an explana-
ton that he did not desire the news
papers to spread this number, and added
that an investigation two years ago had
shown we have many, many more
mines than that"
Congressman Gardner, father of the
DdIlOndl
through n commission, considered the
request as aimed at him, and started to
withdraw from the session to which he |
was only a visitor.
II shall not consider myself bound by !
the admiral's withdrawal Of the num-
ber," he declared. |
II shall feel at liberty to use his data |
on the floor of the House"
Padgett invited Gardner 10 remain, |
and he did.
Fiske then interjected the remark that |
the number is really no particular |
secret. and this temporarily ended the I
committee clash.
F'iske said Germany has 5000 mines. |
but he had no information to show |
that nation has strewn mines with fish !
ng vessels.
Aircraft for Scout Duty.
Turning to the subject of aircraft, /
Fiske contended that the destructive !
effect of bomb-dropping from air ma i
chimes had been small In the present /
war.
Their chief advantage. he held, lies
n their ability to do scout duty, such /
as locating mines and submarines.
How near New York city would a
hostile feet have to come TO use its
aeroplanes in dropping its bombs?
lueried Congressman Roberts.
'-Ihey could direct them from quite
distance GUY III tiiS OCceH' Hior@S IL
piled.
They could send them from LOO
miles," asked Roberts.
1t is u little too high, think an
swered FIske, ''bUt I think probably
they could send them in from 40 or !,
30 miles
Eiske admitted that this nation lacked
The air craft with which 70 meet the
air craft of hostile nations. Moreover.
he declared, no nation has sufficient
Of . Ct nf 1
20 miles from its coast.
That this nation Is behind Europe IL
he matter of mines and air craft was
Eiske S flat statement.
War Would Show Inadequacy.
CIV o.eo ,f ,ro- -bfs -.or,Id =. show, I