The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-12-23
COAL FOR THE NAVY
GOVERNMENT FIELDS IN ALASKA
HAVE GOOD FUEL.
Secretary Daniels Finishes His Four.
Day Examination Before House
House Committee on Naval Affairs.

Formal announcement Of success
full naval attests of coal from gov
ernment-owned Matanuska fields in
Alaska was made Tuesday by Secre-
tary Daniels before the naval COM
mittee of the House. Trials by the
cruiser Maryland about ten days ago,
Mr.. Daniels said, had demonstrated
that the Matanuska coal was as good
as any to be found.
The results of this test, over which
navy officials have been exulting
quietly for several weeks, were par
ticularly gratifying, Mr.. Daniels said,
because disappointing experiments
with coal from the Bering fields a
year ago had dimmed hopes that the
rich deposits in Alaska ultimately
would meet all Of the governments
demands for fuel on the Pacific coast.
Mr.. Daniels spent his fourth and
last day before the committee, ex-
planned the needs of the navy in con-
nection with the preparations OF the
annual appropriation bill and answer
ing questions on every phase of the
national defence problem. He told
of proposal for building a half-nail-
lion-dollar projectile plant at Phila-
delphia or Indian Head, Maryland,
admitted that it was no secret in the
navy that the supply Of shells for the
great guns of the battleships was in
adequate, and gave his views at
length on the retired pay question.
Capt. Winterhalter, the secretary S
aide for materials, was questioned
about submarines, and ahd quite an
argument with Representative Hob
son Of Alabama, over war scares.
Capt. Winterhalter said he was un-
able to see international dangers
ahead pictured by Mr.. Hobson. Then
the congressman told the committee
Of "scare" last year that put the
American garrison in the Philippines
IL a state Of siege.
''In May and for some months OF
last year." said Mr.. Hobson, "our
gunners at Corregidor Island stood
at their guns night and day, with
plans for a two years siege. The
harbors were mined. Troops from all
| over the islands were brought into
Corregidor and everything prepared
for siege, except there was no
transfer of the government from Ma
nilla. It did not take any vision to
see that"
The secretary said the navy was
trying to put its yards on business
| basis with industrial managers. try
| ing the plan at New York, Norfolk,
and perhaps some other points.
"The Philadelphia navy yard is in
excellent shape" he added, land
| hasn't as many evils-card systems
and other paper work-as they have
in some of the other yards. We are
going to put construction officer in
charge at the Norfolk yard"
Representative Lee Of Pennsylva-
MIA brought up the proposed new
naval dry dock, suggesting that, in
view of trouble with the site select
ed at Norfolk, it would be better to
build a dock at Philadelphia, where
the bottom is safe and sure.
"The reasons I recommended the
building of a dry dock at Norfolk, y
replied Secretary Daniels, "is because
that yard has more docking, more
arrivals and departures than any
other yard. I recommended the loca-
ton at Norfolk; it is for congress to
determine what should be done. The
chief docking need of the navy is at
| Norfolk
Secretary Daniels was asked If the
general board of the navy agreed
with him as to the location of the
dock.
eve don't always agree" said the
secretary, smilingly. 'If the COM
mittee desires to place at Philadel-
| phia the large double dry dock-two
docks-at the same cost as the one
1,000-yard dock at Norfolk you
wouldn't trobject?" asked Mr.. Lee.
'Whatever the bill says is our duty
to carry out" was the reply.
"Did Capt. Grant t1rn the battle
ship Texas around in front Of the
navy yard in the Elizabeth River at
the Norfolk navy yard?"
eyes, he did," was the reply.
Mr.. Lee was little sceptical about
the Texas turning around in a chan
mel 400, feet wide and 35 feet deep,
and suggested that maybe 1t was
turned around at Berkley, Va.
Secretary Daniels said 1t was not
the purpose Of the navy department
to maintain marines on the Tsthmus
in addition to the army. This was
in connection with his urgent recon-
mendation that 100000 Of an unex-
pended appropriation for marine bar
racks at Panama be equally divided,
instead, at Mare Island and Norfolk.
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