West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-12-17

Secretary Daniels Challenged by Con
oressman to Deny That Count
Was on Verge Of War In Pacific u
1918. But No Answer Is Given-HoL
son Tells Of Activities on corresi.
dor Island at That Time.
Washington. Dec. IA statement
made before the house committee on
naval affairs by Representative Hob
son OF Alabama that the United S. ties
got itself In readiness for a possible
war In the Pacific in May. 1913. was
permitted to go unchallenged by Sec.
retary of the Navy Daniels, although
Mr. Hobson called on Mr.. Daniels to
deny the truth of the assertion.
HobsoR was compelled to make this
declaration by the testimony OF Cap
tain A. G. Winterhalter, a member OF
the navy general board. who intimated
that Mr.. Hobson and many other per.
sons In the United States are con,
stantly seeing visions OF war.
II am not seeing things" said Hob
son. Il know that In May, 1913. and
for some weeks longer our gunners at
Corregidor islands stood at their guns
night and day with provisions for q
two years siege. The harbor was
mined and troops from all over the
islands were brought into Corregidor.
Everything was prepared for a two
years siege except the transfer OF the
government from Manila. II did not
take any vision to see that"
Secretary Daniels and Captain Win
terhalter looked grave as Mr.. Hobson
proceeded. The former made no di-
rect reply to the assertion of Mr.. Hob
son about the alleged preparations for
war on Corregidor island. whereupon
Mr.. Hobson exclaimed:
"Well, the secretary OF the navy is
here. ] will ask him II what / have
stated Is not true. Let him deny IT,"
Secretary Daniels, his face pale and
lips drawn, looked Mr.. Hobson in the
eye and made no reply. Turning
hngrily toward Captain Winterhalter
Mr.. Hobson remarked:
y don't want people to say any
more that / am seeing things"
II was recalled In the committee
room that 1t was just about that time
when diplomatic negotiations were
pending with Japan relative to the
alien land law question In California.
The relations between the two coun-
tries were strained, much more
strained. In fact, than was generally
supposed at the time. II has been
said in well informed quarters that IL
was due largely to the good offices OF
Great Britain that the situation was
smoothed over.
1t was just about this time also that
the president recommended the repeal
OF the free toll clause OF the Panama
canal act, saying that unless congress
yielded to him on this question he
would not know how to deal with other
questions of more delicate char
acter."
1t was said that administration Of
ficials are bitter over the develop
ments before the committee on naval
AFFAIRS In the past few days and that
as q result Of the Hobson Incident, in
which there was frank discussion
OF question that the government
would rather have ignored, an effort
may be made to prevent further dis
cussion Of naval subjects before the
house.
In the course of his testimony Cap
tain Winterhalter, who Is an expert
on ship construction, gave II as his
opinion that the British battleship Au
daciops was blown up by mine.
Replying 70 a question Captain Win
>ferhalter said ne had never heard of a
modern battleship being blown up by
a submarine.
Mr.. Witherspoon directed attention
to the exploit Of the British Bill sub
marine In destroying the Turkish bat
tleship Massudieh In the Dard lnelles
The witness insisted that this engage
ment was not conclusive In provine
the submarine would prove effectv
against modern battleships. He point
ed out that the Turkish sh p was built
in 1874. that It's armament licked the
power OF resistance now employed I'm
battleship building and further that
this tattleship was not corstructed in
~ artments like the battle hips OF
today.
AZ was brought out In The course oi
Captain Winterhalter's tcs imoly that
within the past few years ,he United
States had dropped from second to
fourth place among n1val powers by
reason Of the large bu Ing Of the
Germans and French. Germany now
standing second and Fr nee third.
Seeks Wife Two Hours Ate Divorce.
Marietta, o.. Dec. 1.-two hours
after he had been released from one
matrimonial tangle by Judge Follett
In common pleas court, Stephen Fra.
els. seventy-pine years old, applied M
the probate judges Office for n license
90 wed Mrs. Reeves. sixty.fve yeas
!. old. Judge Smith refused to grant
the license, explaining that the bride
would have to appear TO sign the ap.
plication.
Cotton Exchange Holiday.
~cw York. Dec " The New York