Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-11
HIS TWO-sH|P PROGRAM
DEFENDED BY DANIELS
Thinks Sentiment of People Opposes
Turning Country Into Great
Military Power.
ALL DAY BEFORE CoMNlITTEB
Question Of Military Preparedness
Dominant Subject of Attention in
Congress, and Discussion Seems to
Threaten Long, General Debate.

WASHINGTON. December 1O.-Mili-
tary preparedness of the nation was
again the dominant subject Of congress
sional attention to-day Secretary
Daniels, before the House Naval Com
mittee. defended his two battleships n
year construction program. and de-
clared the sentiment of the people of
the United States opposed turning the
country into n great military power.
Meantime, free-for-all national de-
Tense debate occupied the House Itself.
Mr.. Daniels. during an all-dny eXami-
nation, said this country already had
n powerful navy, and that while with
abundant revenues" he might favor
the general boards four-battleship
program adequate. Pressed for an
opinion as to the world military situa-
tion at the close of the European war,
the secretary predicted an international
conference on armament
when the war is over" he said.
these countries will be so exhausted
in their resources and burdened with
debt that there Will be great revul-
sion against war. expect the revul-
sion Will be so great that we will have
an international conference on arma-
ment-more possible now than before
than ever before, and that we will get
some action by which the navies of
the world powers Will be used only to
carry into execution the agreements
the countries reach"
GARDNER PRECIpIrATEs
DISCUSSION IN HOUSE
Representative Gardner precipitated
the military discussion on the House
floor with a speech, criticizing the ad-
ministration for laying the cold hand
of death" on his proposal for special
investigation of military and naval
In 1nI no D,,lo
Committee for refusal to grand him a
hearing. and the Naval and Military
Committees for failure to summon be-
fore them former Cabinet officials and
other witnesses he wanted examined.
"lf war were to break out to-day"
said Mr.. Gardner. "it would be found
our coast defenses have not sufficient
ammunition for an hours lighting"
Representative Fitzgerald, OF New
York, replied briefly, and promised to
make complete reply later, which
would make notwithstanding ex-
secretaries" less anxious to discuss the
national defense
Representative Dies. of Texas. ridi-
culcd the thought of impending dam
ger of attack. Representative Sisson.
of Mississippi, charged "the war propa-
ganda" to the manufacturers of war
material Representative Prouty, of
Iowa, pleaded for international dis
armament, lrDltratlOn ana an lnterna-
tional police. and declared force of
trained squirrel shooters could pre-
vent the landing of n hostile force on
American soil.
To-day's discussion seemed to
threaten a prolonged general debate
OH both sides of the Capitol. In tho
Senate tomorrow the military situa-
tion will be discussed by Senator
Weeks. of Massachusetts,. Secretary
Daniels will continue his statement be-
fore the House Committee.
DANIELS CROsS-QUEsTIONE
SHARPLY BY COMMITTEE
Mr. Daniels was ross-questionad
sharply by the. committee members to-
day regarding the differences between
his views and those Of the general
board, whose ur-battleship plan con-
templates completion OF fleet OF
forty eight battleships by 1919.
The secretary said the board had
recommended an annual Increase OF
two battleships until Congress- appro-
priated for only One, and then the
board changed to four battleship pro-
gram There are now forty battle
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