The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1914-12-18
NEAR WAR WITH
JAPAN IN 1918
HObSOn Tells How U. S. Guns
Were Manned For Weeks.
SEC'Y. DANIELS DOESN'T DENY

ALABAMA congressman DS'NIS
Committee Denies Charge Made by
Member Of Navy General Board OF
"Seeinq Things"-Discussion Pro-
Vokes Administration.
WASHINGTON A statement
made before the house committee on
naval affairs by Representative Hob
son of Alabama that the United States
got itself in readiness for a possible
war in the Pacific in May 1913 was
permitted to go unchallenged by Sec
rotary of the Navy Daniels, although
Mr.. HObSOn called on Mr.. Daniels to
deny the truth of the assertion.
Mr.. Hobson's challenge to the sec
rotary of the navy to deny that the
government was fearful or trouble in
the far east a year ago and that it
actually made preparations for var
iii that quarter was dramatic in the
extreme Mr. HobsOn was impelled
to make this declaration by the tcSti-
mOny of Capt. A. G. Winterhalter.
member of the navy general BOARD,
who intimated that Mr.. Hobson ano
many other persons in the United
States are constantly seeing "isicDs
of war
Hobson Very Angry.
Mr.. HObson, who exhibited great
anger over Captain WinterhalGer's
rather facetiOus testimony, denied
that he was seeing things" Then
it was that he made the statement.
For my own part" he said, 81 have
not been seeing things. In May, 1913,
and for several weeks thereafter oar
gunners at CorregadOr island stayed
at their guns night and day. The
harbors were mined Troops were
sent there. Everything was prepared
for a two years siege. Everything
had been moved there except the :,oy-
eminent which was ready to move.
have noticed other things from tine
to time. I do not notice them now
any more than | ever have"
Secretary Daniels and Captain Win
terhalter looked grave as Mr.. Hohson
proceeded The former made TO dl
rert reply to the assertion of Mr. Hob
son about the alleged preparations for
wa, on Corregador island, whereupon
Mr. HObson exclaimed: We'll, the
secretary of the navy is here. viii
ask him il what I have stated is not
true Let him deny it." Secretary
Daniels. his face pale and lips drawn.
looked Mr.. Hobson squarely in the
eve and made no reply. Turning an.
grily toward Captain Winterhalteg Afr.
TIobson remarked:
81 don't want people to say any
more that am seeing things"
Land Question Recalled
Mr.. HObsOn's charge that the Unit
ed States was preparing for war il.
1918 created something Of a sensa-
ton in the committee room. It was
recalled that it was Just about that
time when diplomatic negotiations
were pending with Japan relative to
the alien land law question in Cali
fornia The relations between the two
countries were strained. mu:-i more
strs ined in fact, than was generally
supposed at the time It has beer
said in we'll informed quarters that i
was due largely to the good offices Of
Great Britain that the situation was
smoothed over
Figured in Tolls Repeal.
1t was just about this time also that
the president recommended the repeal
CT the free toll clause of the Panama
canal act saying that unless congress
Welded to him on this occasion he
would not know how to deal with
other questions ''of a more delicar.
character" 1t was said tonight that
administration officials are exceeding
" bitter over the developments be
fore the house committee on naval If
fairs in the past few days and that
as a result of tOday's incident in
which there was a frank discussion o.
a question that the government would
rather have ignored. an effort NAV be
made to prevent further discussion OF