The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-24
Commanders Reports That
FlOtilla Is Unfit Long
Ignored.
CHARGES OF NEGLECT
BROUGHT A REBUkE
Secretary's Aids Take Of
fence at "Reflections' in
Officers Letters.

w.sutScroN. Dec 23.--Evideuce that
,hs Navy Department itself has discour- ,
aged the development Of the submarine as
a vsapon of warfare s contained In corre- |
snondence transmitted to the House Com
mit,ee on Naval Affairs BY Secretary Dan
iels This correspondence embraces a I
series Of letters exchanged by Secretary |
Daniels and other Department officials on |
the one hand and Yates Stirling. com |
mander of the Atlantic fotilla of sub |
marines, on the other
II discloses that Commander Stirling |,
was sharply rebuked by the Secretary OK
the Navy for filing "A report with the De- |
partment showing the precise state of un- |
preparedness of the vessels in the Atlantic |
aotilla Complying with instructions sent
him by the Secretary of the Navy. Com
mander Stirling reported that the seven
Teen submarines in his care were abso-
lutely unfit for war service.
In the Departments instructions Com
mander Stirling was requested to advise
his superiors why the submarines were
UNIT and 20 make recommendations as
to what he would do to Increase their ef-
hciency. He replied that the submarines
were UNIT because of the neglect OF the
Department" and he suggested that an
Improvement of conditions in the hotilla
could be brought about only by closer CO.
ordination between the division of per-
s...e! and the division If material.
capt. wint-rhaiter Offended.
Commander Strings report wa.
rhrased in language that gave offence 10
the Secretary and some of his aids. For
example. Capt Winterhalter, aid for ma
terial, regarded some OF the observations
OF Commander Stirling AS refection
upon his work in the Department.
IL appears that Commander Stirling
sent at least one of his letters direct to
the Department instead OF through Rear
Admiral Badger. commander or the At
lan,ic fleet. This was in June last. Rear
Admiral Badger reproved Commander
Stirling for this breach OF etiquette, and
capt Winterhalter expressed resentment
over Strings reference TO the work
within the Department.
II appears that Commander Stirling
first apprised the Navy Department of
the unpreparedness of the Atlantic iiotilla
on June IL last He wrote four letters
~ the subject. all OF which were ignored.
Finally The Department, impelled by pub
lie criticisms of the unpreparedness OF the
Atlantic notilla. called upon Commander
Stirling for a report.
Commander Stirling replied In rather
caustic vein that the fiotilla was in bad
shape totally unfit for service in time OF
war and that II high time the De-
partment repaired the damage wrought by
its neglect Secretary Daniels replied that
zeal in naval officer is to be COM
mended, but it should be coupled with
proper prospect for the Department
Questioned at Hearing.
Tn correspondence to the Naval
Committee was referred to at the recent
committee hearing, when Commander
stirling appeared as witness. lie was
Questioned concerning II by representa-
tive Roberts of Massachusetts, who asked
II ne had been rebuked or censured by
the Department for making report ON
the condition of the totild.
Commander Stirling replied that he did
not regard the letters of the Department
in the nature Of rebuke or censure.
Tie said there were differences between
himself and the Department over GER
tain facts, but that he did not feel dis
posed TO discuss the matter, Representa-
i've Roberts thereupon asked the chair
man OF the committee TO call for the
correspondence, which was done.
Members OF the Naval Committee who
save examined the correspondence say
That It shows beyond doubt that until the
outbreak Of the war In Europe neither
secretary Daniels nor his aids had very
much faith in submarines.
IheF point out that Commander Stirling
on four different occasions informed the
department. that the boats Of the Atlantic
u tia We're unfit for war service, but
ma, no attention was paid L, these
rep eStntdtlons until several months there
alter
II was learned to-day that an effort
may he made in the House Naval Com
mltlee TO modify the building programme
recently submitted 20 Congress by the
Secretary OF the Navy Secretary Daniels
recommended the authorization Of two
ua'tesn!ps, six destroyers. eight or more
submarines one oller and one repair ship.
Representative Roberts, who has great
lalih n submarines, cOntemplates suggest
"g one battleshlp, sixteen or more sub
marines and more of the auxiliary ships
i'c mm"nded by the Secretary OF the
Navy. Nj, Roberts Is of the opinion that
II NE twenty-onc capital warshps OF the
United states navy are to be brought up
10 nc highest state OF efficiency as agen-
wee "t War they must he supported by
all adequate number II auXiliaries. In
Vas r'Erd Mr., Roberts regards the navy
- d. tIent
unemployed as u Reserve.
representative Britten Of Illinois. ne
IN" 'dh, member or the House Commit
lee ou NaNal Affairs, has evolved IA plal
10 '1h" care If the unemployed and at III
came time create a reserve force for The
Amy 10 hc used in case of war. Mr.. Brit
zen introduced a bill to-day providing fo
"" t'ustu,ut Of 100000 men ia the arm
''r period Of four months.
NI Bltten argues that there are thou
emu, Of men out of employment and 1
'"hHr"Ns enacted this bill the congestion
u Unemployed in the large industrial cen
Vts would DO greatly relieved.
Illr adoption Of such plan" he sad
N"u.d save thousands from going L
soup Ei',hous and taking place in III
uica0 lr,"
Ih" hittcn nll provides that for te
''''' following the enlistment Of ia
..Ny Of 100 900 the men 80 enlistin
'.'a 'r subject to compulsory militar
'efN''" "a the event OF war.
NNN>, TINE AILTOGETIlEB POUCH