The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-15
Tired of Being Called Visionary,
He Says. as He Repeats
Soldiers Slept by Guns in the
Philippines in 1913.
No Denial by Daniels, Alabama
Congressman Points Out.
Asserts Mikado'S Forces
Also Were Ready.

| Asserting that he is tired Of being
| called a visionary and accused (of see
! ing things Congressman Richmond P.
! Hobson. hero of the Merrimac, ex-
! planned today why he made his start
ling statement late yesterday before
the House Naval Committee concern
ing the nearness Of war between the
United States and Japan in MAY, 1915.
when the California alien land law
troubles were acute
Mr.. Hobson's unexpected statement
before the committee VAS the most
sensational episode of the three days,
Secretary Daniels has spent on the wit
ness stand. AS the Secretary conclud-
ed his testimony and Capt A. S. Win
terhslter wound up the odds and ends
Of the estimates, Congressman Hobson
and Captain Winterhalter engaged in a
sparrins match over the question of
preparedness.
Reiterates War Was Near.
It vas during this discussion that
Congressman Hobson suddenly chal-
lenged Secretary Daniels to deny that
the gunners slept by their guns at Cor
regidor in May, 1918, and were pre-
pared for a siege by the japanese
II have known how things were go
ing for years." said Mr.. Hobson to-
day. but decided yesterday that
should 60 more into detail II viii be
noted that my statements were not de-
MED by Secretary Daniels.
1T is true that our gunners, expecting
e Japanese attack any hour of the day
or night. slept by their guns on Corregi-
dor Island, when the California land law
troubles were at their height II Is fur
ther true that we had 10000 tons OF pro-
visions quickly assembled there. We
prepared for two-year siege.
Governor Ready To Flee.
Il know also that q launch was kept
waiting for days 10 bring to Corregidor
the governor OF the Philippine islands.
Corregidor is the only spot under our
flag which is absolutely protected. You
cannot sneak up from behind on II.
You must approach by water or not at
all, and there can be no attack from
the rear, such as is possible for instance,
at Manila. We have number Of big
guns al Corregidor-how many I shall
not say-but we are adequately protect
ed at this spot alone-hence the prepar-
atoms TO move the government from
Il believe that war with Japan was
avoided at this time only because Of
their hope that we were soon going to
give up the Philippines, and they would
obtain possession of them IN some way.
"I may also state that l know that
when the California school Segregation
was agitated, several years previously
Japan had its eye on the Philippines 20
such an extent that they mad mapped
out in advance 4 form of government
for the islands. The public does not
know how near we were to war on these
occasions.
No Denial By Daniels.
i have spoken in general terms on
thee subjects heretofore, but on yester-
day, With the Secretary of the Navy
present, I believed that the time had az
rived TO be specific. And he uttered no
denial Of what / know. How ! ascer-
tanned if doesn't matter
Congressman Hobson predicted an
unusual interest this year in the de-
bate on the naval affairs bill. He re-
called previous speeches in which he
and other members of Congress have
urged preparedness on this nations
part Mr.. Hobson continued:
The difficulty has been heretofore
that The public has not seemed fully
aroused over these questions OF ma
tional defense. At last public atter
ton is directed at this vital matter
!
believe that the approaching discus
sion Of the state of our military pre-
paredness will be one OF the most in
teresting and important debates in
the history OF Congress-.
AmpifyiuG his statement that the
waters about Corregldor Island were
mined at the time of the threatened
Japanese invasion a year ana a half
ago, Mr.. Hobson said:
The hsr1or was mined just as thor
oughly as the harbors OF the warning
nations OF Europe are mined todSy
doubt not that the PROVISIONS rushed to
CorreaIdor at that time are stu there
today"
Were the japanese alert also?"
Mr.. Hobson was asked.
"They were as alert as We were.
he answered. The situation vas very
critical
Congressman Hobson's statement be-
fore the Naval Committee. Of which
ne ls member. figured in the colloquy
with Captain Winterhaiter regarding
national defense. as follows:
DO you think our national defense
nay be called safe when We drop down
to the position of third or fourth among
the naval powers asked Mr.. Hobson.
well. that depends" said the officer
Now, OF course, | can't see all the
things around me that others are seeing
Most anything can happen. l believe the
word impossible should be taken out of