Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-10
GERMAN NAVY AHEAD IN 1878
Atlantic Fleet Commander Says,
All Things Considered. That
England Could Whip United
States on Sea-NO Cause to
Fear Any Other Nation.


of the majority members Of the House
rules committee to grant his request for
hearing on his resolution to direct a
special inquiry into the military pre-
raredness of tho United states, Repre-
sentative Gardner of Massachusetts was
determined to-day to continue his fight
for such an Investigation.
In a letter which he sent to Repre-
sentative Henry. chairman of the COM
nttee, Mr. Gardner declared that he
would accept refusal To grant a hear
Ing only from a meeting of the fun COM
mittee. His letter was in answer to one
from Chairman Henry advising him that
his proper forum for a hearing was be-
fore the regularly constituted COM
mlttee of the House which were in daily
session considering matters pertaining
to the military and naval strength of the
country.
Measures dealing with the army now
pending In Congress include the bill
passed by the Senate at the last session
authorizing the President to recruit the
army to full war strength whenever in
his Judgment complications with foreign
countries warrant. Another Senate bill!
awaiting action IN the House is that
revising the articles of war. In tho
Senate the militia pay bill providing
compensat!on for national guardsmen
who participate in auoeuvers, still Is
pending and Senator Chamberlain, chair
man of tho military affairs committee
said to-day he contemplated pressing
that measure as of utmost importance
IN the building up of an army reserve
He also has in mind a proposal requiring
military training in all colleges ana
schools receiving government or state
aid and posshly extending to high school
cadet corps as method Of training
civilians for commissions as junior Of
fcers in case Of war.
The Senate military committee will
meet Friday to take up matters pending
before IT. Several bills, including the
Chamberlain national defense council
measure have heon referred to this COM
mitteo.
uear4nes before the House military
and naval committee which are framing
the army and navy appropriation hllls
were continued to-day, Secretary Daniels
! and Rear Admiral Fletcher, who sue
/ ceeded Admiral badger in command OF
/ INC Atlantic 1eet, were on the list OF
witnesses before .he naval commttee
Rrlead,er-Tcrera, Scott, chief of star
OF tho army, was to re hoard hH me
military ommitteo
, ENGLAND CAN CONTROL SEAS.
, Admiral Fletcher said the latest Amer
team submarines were not equipped with
the most modern torpedoes, but they
would be. He said It would be a very re-
! . ha aiuh A.
rnes authorized "A years ago We're as eff
cient now as they were then. Pressed tc
define what was meant ny defensive war
fare. Admiral Fletcher replied
.'rhe enemy might wish 10 drive oul
commerce off the ocean our navy would
20 out to meet the enemy's fleet. If the
enemy should plant an army, the de-
fensiyc oreratlon would be to repe the
attack
what is the purpose of having this ar
mament, these 40 or " big Warships that
we have" demanded Representative But
Ter of Pennsylvania.
ITO protect your interests and particu
larly your commercial interests on the
sea"
After a prolonged series of questions or
relative strength of world naves, Repre-
sentative Witherspoon or MISSISSIPPI
asked:
"What nation is there that We are no
prepared to successfully resist? Not one
on earth, Is there?'
II should say that England has navy
so much more powerful than any othel
nation that she could easily keep contro
of the seas answered Admiral Fletcher
"Well, are there any other nations tina
we could not successfully resst?'
Il do not think that we fear any othe
nation"
Assuming Representative Wither
spoon continued, that England shoulC
send against us more ships than We: as
, C,ming that our ships were superior, tina
the Workmanship of our men was supe
/ ror. would your assumption that England
: could whip us then be truce
| lCOptinued ON mage four.l