Arizona republican., 1914-12-12
While Admitting Protection is Inadequate, Secretary Says Atlantic Fleet Could Be Ready for Action in Eighteen Days
SMALL FLEET THERE IN MARCH
Nations Military and Naval Situation is Again the Center of Attention at Capitol, Provoking Pro- longed Discussion
ASSOCIATED PRESS p1spArcHl

" O-Ns ICtt. H. w lllIt dt hitting the Pacific coast is now with out adequate protection in case of war, Secretary Daniels told the house naval committee if an emergency should arise the Atlantic fleet could be dispatched to the Pacific within eighteen days to deal with any hos tile craft that might succeed in run ming the gauntlet of the American submarines from Manila and Homo lulu. Moreover, Secretary Daniels an nounced today that a small fleet will be in the Pacific at the enu of next March, when the Panama canal will be formlly opened with an interna- tional naval parade.
 Again today the nations military and naval situation was the center of attention at the capitol. Daniels was questioned all day, and in the senate Senator Weeks of Massachu- setts delivered a speech, deprecating too much publicity in the matter of military strength. pointing to the secret methods of European powers as an object lesson.
 Led by the questioning. participated in by nearly every member. Daniels discussed the navy's inability to get satisfactory airships, and the problem of submarine torpedo boats. which has offered more difficulties than all other crafts combined. He opposed extravagsnt appropriations for either submarines or air crafts, and incl dentally suggested the public need not be surprised at any time from now on to read of a battle royal be- tween fleets of the opposing nations of Europe.
 Reference to Mexico followed ques- tions by Representative Roberts of Massachusetts about the criticisms by the general board of the navy of the use of battleships where gun boats would suffice. Daniels agreed to this in general, but said there were no occasions or emergencies when battleships and not gunboats are essential.
 What was the military necessity Roberts asked. referring to the Vera Cruz occupation, "of keeping eighteen battleships off Vera Cruz and Tam pico when Vera Cruz was held by the American army and marines?'
 There were not eighteen all the time" the secretary replied. The number was gradually reduced from eighteen to four If we had had to blockade all the Mexican ports" he explained. ''all the battleships would have been needed. If we had gone to Mexico City we would have had to take half the navy with us.'
 Mir Daniels explained to the com mittee that there were no dread naughts on the Pacific coast, and the only battfeship there was the Ore gon, which was about to be trans ferred to the active list again. He said the active naval strength on the Pacific now included nine cruisers, two gunboats, one transport, five tor pedo boat destropers, three submar- ines and one tender. while the re- serve fleet comprised five armored cruisers and twenty -four torpedo boat destroyers and two submarines.
 Do You think these vessels are adequate or sufficient protection for the Pacific coast for war;" Repre- sentative Stevens of California asked.
 "No, we have not got a great fleet there and we have no dradnaught there. I do not want a fleet without a dreadnaught, or very strong fleet. If we were to have trouble with any nation we would send a fleet through the Panama canal"
 Do you think trouble could arise and very material damage be done before any fleet could arrive on the Pacific coast?'
 q think the odds are the other way. One of the reasons, perhaps, the chief reason, why we built the Panama canal, was to make it pos sible to have a fleet to defend both coasts"
 Have we a fleet sufficient to de- fend both coasts?'
 ''Yes, sir: altogether sufficient to defend both coasts"
 But it cannot defend both coasts? ?'' Not at the same time. If we are going to have war we can get a fleet to the Pacific coast. The day when the Pacific has a smaller fleet and with no chance of the fleet being on that coast will end next March We shall keep the fleet where il seems best to keep it for the protec- | ton of the country. As matter oi fact there is hardly a possibility oi our being attacked on both sides al once