Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-12
U. S. NAVY STRONG ENOUGH
TO DEFEND BOTH COASTS


mot at the same time, but there
is hardly a possibility of our being
attacked on both sides ut once"
IAN enemy" ne added. has got to
run the gauntlet of our submarines I'm
the Philippines and Hawaii. and We
could delay them n good deal with the
fleet we have there now. until the real
large fleet comes. II would take about
eighteen days. roughly. for the fleet to
go from New York to San Francisco,
provided the canal is open and un-
obstructed."
MORE SUBMARINES WILL.
be SENT TO PHILIPPINES
do you think the submarines now
In the Philippines would offer any
serious 'hindrance to the navy in the
Pacific Ocean attacking us?"
I'VE are going TO send more over
there. and we are asking for more
now?"
The secretary made yelled Illusion
to emergencies during the Vera Cruz
occupation which might have led to
taking half the men or the Atlantic
Fleet to join the army In proceeding
to the Mexican capital In reply to
question as to the use of battleships
where gunboats would suffice for the
naval necessities OF the situation, he
said:
For instance, when the first Next
y
we sent battleships to Mexico. Some
SAID the United States should have sent
Sunboats. and saved the battlesbips
Tor other purposes. but the gunboats
would not have done as well. II we
had had to blockade all the Mexican
ports. all the battleships would have
been needed If we had gone to Mex
leo City we would have had to take
half the navy w'ith us."
Asked II he agreed with the recon-
mendation Of Captain Bristol. in charge
OF aviation, for 81 600, 300 appropria-
tion for airships. the secretary said
that was not too much IF we could
get the aircraft, but 1t was too much
as the airship situation stands"
Captain Bristol had advised the com
mfttee that, from the best Information
available. the United States had only
twenty-three .aeroplanes. including
those privately owned, while France
had approximately twenty-five dirigi-
bles and 1.400 aeroplanes; Russia,
eighteen dirigibles and 500 aeroplanes;
Great Britain. nine dirlgibles and 400
aeropianes. and Germany. forty dirigi-
bles and 1000 aeroplanes Secretary
Daniels said the difficulty in this coun-
try was that manufacturers had not
yet made an aircraft suitable for the
navy. Chairman Padgett intimated
that the committee might later add a
substantial sum TO the navy bill TO
provide for airship development.
NAVAL WAR COLLEGE
GREATLY STRENGTHENED
Secretary Daniels told the committee
that the Naval War College had been
greatly strengthened. He declared
"the strongest thing in the navy Is the
practical instruction and technical
training aboard ship"
He said the time was past when more
naval officers wanted shore berths than
sea service.
IF Congress should pass a bill to
provide considerable Increase in the
number OF submarines, you'd be glad
OF 1t. wouldn't you?" ne was asked.
Yes II 1t wouldn't interfere with
our program. wouldn't advocate,
however. an extravagant increase OF
submarines"
He advised against building any more
seagoing submarines than the one
authorized last year and the one asked
this winter
The seagoing submarine" he added.
lis still an experiment.
I'VE tried to get satisfactory type
Of aircraft. and have failed" the sec
rotary said. adding that the United
States Is only at the commencement
of aircraft development Contracts
for aircraft had been made in Ger
many and France. He agreed that 1t
looked as II the United States would
have to organize department of avia-
ton "and build our own machines"