The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-22
NAVY was READY.
DANIELS PRAISES WATCHWORD
OF BADGERS FLEET.
Talks OF His Efforts for Proper Main
tcnance and Support.

This the only statement of Rear
Admiral Charles Badger, commander
in chief OF the Atlantic fleet, had to
make as his ships steamed out of
Hampton Roads for Mexico, was made
public here tonight by Secretary Dan
els to be added ito the splendid
words spoken by American naval he
roes."
Mr.. Daniels told members of the
Navy League Of the United States at
their annual banquet that the brevi-
ty and cOmprehensiveness of that
statement deserved to rank with
those of Dewey at Manila and John
Paul Jones in the battle Of the Bon
Homme Richard and the Scraps.
An appeal for popular support Of
the navy was voiced by the secretary
There is nothing the matter with
our navy" he said. There is moth
ing the matter with our discipline.
There is nothing the matter with our
splendid personnel; there is a. great
deal the matter with the public view
point; there is great deal the mat
ter with the lack Of information on
the part of great portion of our
citizens as to the navy
1T is my firm belief that no def
mite programme Of naval construc-
tion-by that I mean a programme
that will not be in jeopardy every
time congress assembles-can be laid
down until an Overwhelming major
ity Of our people become friends OF
the navy's proper development"
Mr.. Daniels said his pride and ad-
miration Of American naval officers
and men was stirred and strengthened
by John Lind, President Wilson'S
personal representative in Mexico,
upon his return to the United States
recently. The secretary remarked
that Mr.. Lind called to tell him that
the officers and men Of the navy
were the finest body of men he ever
had known.
The navy now has it's full quota and
for the first time has a waiting list
the secretary said.
Speaking of his recent order abol-
ishing the wine mess the secretary
said: 81
with singular lack Of logic, critics
who See fit to represent me as q
foe to discipline on the one hand
twist this into a case Of discipline run
mad on the other. Far greater ques-
tions than that of discipline lie back
OF this"
The secretary said there was no
body OF more temperate, clear headed
men in the world than American ma
val officers. He asked his hearers
whether they would not demand the
abolition OF wine mess in railroad
engineers club houses if the railroads
should permit such thing.
The wreck Of a great battleship,"
said the secretary, the loss Of a
critical battle and the honor of the
country may easily hinge upon one
OF many men in the varied and COM
pick duties which the great masses
Of intricate machinery called battle
ships should create
Secretary Daniels called attention
to Emperor Williams advice to naval
| cadets at Murwick THAT nation
which consumes the least quantity of
alcohol wins. And that you should
be, my gentlemen! And through you
an example should be given the
crews"
Substantial and practical eco
nomics have been brought about in
the expenditures for the navy" Mr..
Daniels said. The appropriation bill
now before congress is less than that
of last year. yet last years appro-
priatiOn included only one battleship
This year, with less money, we pro-
pose to build two"
Secretary Daniels said there were
no political parties in this country
when the honor Of the nation was at
stake
When the president directed me to
order the Atlantic fleet to Mexico"
he said, mot voice was raised in any
newspaper in America but to uphold
the patriotic act. This is an occa-
sion when the Navy league was eX-
pected to speak for the navy, but
within the past few days the navy has
spoken for ITSELF
Secretary Daniels was the guest of
honor at the Navy league banquet
tonight. Other speakers also lauded
the preparedness of the navy for inn
mediate action as shown by the
prompt departure of II powerful
squadron for Mexican waters at the