New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-15
Asks Daniels if Soldiers
Slept at Corregidor
Island Guns.
LATTER AND WAR
DEPARTMENT MUM
Representative Creates
Excitement at Naval
Committee Hearing.
Iron The Tribune Buresu.l

Washington, Dec. 14.-Representa-
tive Richmond Pearson Hobson, of
Alabama. created excitement in the
House Committee on Naval Affairs to-
Ssv when he told Secretary of the
NAVY Daniels and his Aid for Material,
Contain Winterhslter, L. S. N, that
me garrison of Corregidor Island,
which guards Manila hsrbor, had been
Under arms and ready for instant &C.
ton throughout the month Of May,
Representative Hobson challenged
the Secretary OF the Navy TO deny this.
The Secretary made no reply. AT the
War Department tonight an effort 20
Obtain confirmation or denial Of the
Robson assertion met refusal to dis
ouss It.
Representative Hobson, land for sew
srsl weeks Of that year, our ar
tillerymen at Corregidor Island
STAYED by their guns night and day.
The hsrbors were mined. Troops were
sent there. All was prepared for two
year siege. Everything had been moved
there except the civil government of
me islands. which was momentarily
ready to move.
This was the climax of a running
ere Of questions he had directed at
Csptsin Winterhslter during the hear
ing on the preparedness of the United
States for war, and in which the aid
had remarked that lot of people were
seeing things. Captain Winterhalter
had fenced with other members of the
committee. saying unpreparedness was
a question Of degree. He had insisted
that in so far as ships, munitions, ma
terials and personnel were involved,
preparedness was complete. He in
sisted that the position of the United
States among the naval powers % the
world. although it shifted from second
in 1908 10 fourth in 1914, was still
satisfactory.
Daniels Has Nothing to Say.
The questions asked Captain Winter
halter were also intended for the Sec
rotary Of the Navy, who had just
completed his examination and was
sitting beside the aid. The latter had
no comment 10 make on the story OF
Corregidor Island. This did not satisfy
Mr. Hobson. who pursued his point,
addressing the Secretary of the Navy.
Secretary Daniels was not directing his
gaze al the Alabama Congressman.
well, the Secretary Of the Navy is
here. I will ask him if what | have
stated is not true and let him deny it. "
Mr.. Daniels continued to twirl bit
of paper and Captain Winterhalter
smiled, while Chairman Padgett looked
uncomfortable.
Later. in II interview with The Trlb-
une correspondent, Representative Hob
son amplifed mis- story Of the Corregi-
dor incident.
Il know" he said. that in May, 1913
We were in momentary danger of attack
from Japan. We assembled quickly al
COrregidor 100000 tons of provisions
We had been collecting these provisions
cor some time, and they were promptly
concentrated as the situation became
acute. ] believe that we still have this
enormous stock Of provisions at OF near
orregidor.
Gin expectation Of Japanese attack
our gunners at COrregidor slept By
their guns night after night. During J
portion Of the time launch was kept
in readiness 10 remove from Manila
the Governor General of the Philip
pines and his staff. Our soldiers, scat.
tered throughout the islands, were
II is not incumbent upon me 70 say
how J obtained this information. II j:
true and il is not denied.
incidentally, Corregidor is the only
spot under the American flag which i:
amply protected. II is the one place an
enemy cannot take. Manila would fall
but Corregidor would be impregnable
The harbor is mined as completely a:
The harbors Of the warning nations in
Europe to-day are mined; our big guns
sweep the seas, and there is no chance
for foreign forces TO land at Corregi.
dor.
Heretofore, when and others have
attempted TO warn of national peril, we
have been termed Missionaries or alarm
ists. For once the public attention
seems TO be directed toward the sub
Jet Of national defence, and it is high
time.