The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-11
Daniels Appears Before the Naval Affairs Committee. Gardner Agitates Cues tiOn Before House
NAVY SECRETARY
 DEPENDS PRESENT
 ARMAMENT PLANS
People Oppose Turning the
 Country Into Military
 Power, He Says-Senate Will Take up Problem

Washington, December 10.--Mili- tary preparedness of the nation was again the dominant subject of con- gressional attentisn today. Secretary Daniels, before the House naval com mittee, defended his two-battleships- a-year construction programme and declared the sentiment of the people of the United States opposed turning the country into great military power. Meantime a free-for-all na- tional defense debate occupied the House itself.
 Mir. Daniels during an all day examina- tion. said this country already had DOW erful navy and that while with abund- ant revenues he might favor the general boards four-battleship plan. he thought the two-battieship programme adequate. Pressed for an opinion as to the world military situation at the close of the Euro pean war. the Secretary predicted an in ternational conference on armament
 When the war is over," he said. those countries will be so exhausted in their resources and burdened with debt that there will be great revulsion against war. expect the revusion will be so great that we will have an international conference on armament-more possible now than ever beforehand that We will get some action by which the navles of tue world powers will be used oilly to carry into execution the agreements the countries reach."
 Military Discussion Representative Gardner precipitated the military discussion on the House floor with speech criticizing the adminis- tration for laying the cold hand of death on his proposal for special inves- tigation of military and naval conditions He assailed the rules committee for re- fusal to grant him hearing and the naval and military committees for failure to summon before them former cabinet officials and other witnesses he wanted examined.
 "If war were to break out today" de- clared MT. Gardner, Tt would be found our coast defenses have not sufficient am- intuition for an hours fighting" Representative Fitzgerald of New York replied briefly. and promised to make complete statement later which would make "notoriety seeking ex-secretaries' less anxious to discuss the national de- fense. Representative Dies of Texas ridi- culed the thought of impending danger of attack. Representative Sisson of Mlssis- sippi charged the war propagandap to the manufacturers of war material Rep- resentative Prouty of Iowa pleading for international disarmament. arbitration, and an international police. declared prevent the landing of hostile force on American soil.
 Long Debate Threatened
 Today's discussion seemed to threaten a prolonged general debate on both sides of the capital. In the Senate tomorrow the military situation will be discussed by Senator Weeks of Massachusetts. secre- tary Daniels will continue his statement before the House committee.
 MT. Daniels was cross-questioned sharply by the committee members today regarding the differences between his views and those of the general board. whose four-battleship plan contempiates completion of a fleet of 4s battleships by 191s
 The Secretary said the board had rec commended an annual increase of two bat tleships until Congress appropriated for only one, and then the board changed to q four-battleship programme. There are now 70 battleships built, building and au- thorized. he said, adding that with au- thorization of two ships year in 1915. 1916 and 19i7 i've would be only two ships behind that original progra nine"
 Chairman Padgett said the general board of 1908 recommended four battle ships when i've were only two battleships behind the programme and they have kept the four programme since The board says 1t has consistently adhered to the programme they inaugurated in 1903. They have not done so.'
 .sTheir idea of four battleslaips was to catch up so as to get 4S by 1919." exclaimed the secretary.
 You have confidence in the general board?'' asked Mir. Roberts.
 "I have great confidence in the board
 Have we all the mother ships (ten- ders) on hand or authorised. necessary
 (csats.ueA Q. Pss: Ts.)