New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-15
Capt. WHITEWATER Would
Have Country Stand
First.
FLEET PRACTICE
SATISFIES WILSON
Daniels Sees Chance for AM
other Destroyer - Would
Make PrOjectiles.
Prom The Tribune Bureau. ]

~.
/ States has fallen from the position Of
second naval power Of the world TO
| fourth was brought out in the course Of
| to-day's hearing before the House Ma
val Committee. The Navy Departments
own figures furnished the evidence. 1t
showed that whereas in 1908 the posi-
ton of the United States in the num-
Der of warships built, building and
authorized was second only 10 Great
Britain, with France third and Ger
many fourth, az present the first four
powers now stood Great Britain, Ger
many. France and the United States.
Captain WHITEWATER accepted the
figures at face value, but said the state
ment of Representative Gardner, OF
Massachusetts,, that the United States
was totally unprepared for war, was in
the last degree a devastating state
ment."
In answer 70 a question from Mr.:
Hobson as TO the proper position Of
the United States among the world
powers, Captain WHITEWATER said;
~ do not now recognize any inter-
national danger, though, OF course /
would want the United States 10 be q
naval power of the first rank and would
like TO see her the first naval power OF
the world"
Secretary Daniels again announced
that the Atlantic feet would be en-
gagged in an extended series of mapu-
vres off the south Cuban coast, with
Guantanamo as a base, during Janu-
airy. This called from Representative
Farr, Of Pennsylvania, the following
question:: -,
Have our ships in the fleet or in all
the divisions of the feet had all the
exercise that you deem necessary Tor
best results? ] see that some news
papers comment very largely along That
line.
Enough Fleet Practice.
Secretary Daniels replied:
"The fleet has had all the exercise,
practice and maneuvres that the COM
mander in chief has thought necessary,
except that during the presence OF the
ships in Mexico there was, OF course,
some necessary interruption OF the
target practice F.,
THAT would cover eighteen months
said Mr.. Farr, "and one Of the newspa-
pers. | see, says
mo, sir, not eighteen months" inter
posed the Secretary. ut would cover
from the spring of this wear until No,
vember, but in Novem Der Admiral
Fletcher had the feet, or the most OF II,
at the usual Southern drill grounds, at
Hampton Roads, and they were gwen
practice: and we are now Fastening tne
matter of overhauling and Will advance
the dates, so that by the middle OF jan
uary Admiral Fletcher will take the
feet down 10 Guantanamo for the meets
spring practice, and he told me FRIDAY
that when that was finished anything
- hN
being in Mexico would have been fully
recovered"
Throughout to-day's hearing the con-
dition Of the submarine feet kept bob
bling TO the front. Secretary Daniels
told the committee that there would be
submarine manpuvres in the Gull OF
Mexico during the spring. He was not
sure as 10 the dates, and the subject
was not pursued by the committee. as
Commander Yates Stirling, commanding
the hotila. vii, be on the stand to-
morrow.
Commander Stirling will be followed
by Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt. Mr. Roosevelt has charge OF
providing fuel for the feet Repre-
sentative Roberts expects 10 present a
number of questions as 10 the prices
paid by the navy for coal and the rea-
sons for different awards on bids ct
variant prices.
New Policy for Deserters.
Secretary Daniels also explained his
intentions with regard 10 changing the
treatment Of deserters. Penitentiary
punishment for desertion imposed an
expense on the government. and at the
same time did not make Of the deserter
a man fit for re-enlistment. For this
reason the policy has been adopted
since last October of considering deser-
lions as overstayed leave and punish
ing the offender first with heavy fine
and being placed on probation. A sec
ond offence brought dishonorable dis
charge.
There had been no increase IN the
number Of desertions. BY making the
service more attractive TO the sailormen
il would be found in the long run, the
Secretary thought, that the assertions
did not increase in number The num-
Der Of enlisted men imprisoned had de-
creased materially IN the last Few
months.
an Nav last" said Mr.. Daniels, "the
number of sailors and marines IN the
naval prisons was 1885. At the begin
ming of the present month 1t was only
900 The introduction OF a system OF
probation for offenders Is IN part re-
sponsible, and relief from Imprisonment
for desertion is affecting the figures as
we'll As a result, the Navy Depart
ment has abolished two prisons-one at
Puget Sound, Washington, and the
other at Boston. 1t is the intention
also to abolish the prison at Fort
Royal, 5. c."
Representative Roberts, of Massa-
chusetts, thought it might be wise to
declare a sort Of general amnesty IN
favor of deserters now undergoing
punishment.
This" said Secretary Daniels, "is
being accomplished gradually. Release
is held out as reward for good con-
duct. II is expected to result in event
ual amnesty, but we are hardly ready
for that yet"
Incidental TO the abolition Of prisons
and Imprisonment for desertion, the
Navy Department believes saving OF
$500. 900 may be effected.
The Secretary outlined his plan Tor
allowing the sending of commercial
messages by naval radio. -.
"The practice given by the handing
Of the commercial messages is lnvalu-
able TO the personnel of the radio oil,
vision" he said. "ln addition, general
permission TO the naval radio stations
10 accept commercial messages VIII DIS
courage the building OF purely com
mercial stations near the nsvai sta
tions, with the result that there VIII De
less interference with the purely naval
radiograms."
Secretary Daniels also favors the es-
Enlistment Of a government plant for
the manufacture of great gun proJec-
tiles. He urged an appropriation OF
$500 600