The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-12
ALTOGETHER TOO
MUCH PUBLICITY
CCONTINUEu FROM PACE oNE)

" tht tdhiuB Hdil TIE IHen OH the Az
lantic feet TO join the army in pro-
ceeding TO the Mexican capital. In
reply TO question as to the use OF
battleships where gunboats would
suffice for the naval necessities of the
situation, he said:
For instance, when the first Mexi-
can trouble occurred in January, 1918,
we sent battleships to Mexico. Some
said the United States should have sent
gunboats and saved the battleships for
other purposes, but the gunboats would
not have done as we'll. If we had had
to blockade all the Mexican ports. all
the battleships would have been need
ed. IL we had gone TO Mexico City
we would have had to take half the
NAVY with us."
Asked If he agreed with the recon-
mendation OF Captain Bristol. In
charge of aviation, for a 81 GOO. 900 ap-
preparation for airships. the secretary
said that was not too much, "if we
could get the aircraft" but II was too
much as the airship situation stands.
Captain Bristol had advised the COM
mittee that, from the best information
available the United States had only
% aeroplanes, including those pri-
vately owned. while France had an
proximately % dirigib1es and 1,4OO
aeroplanes; EMssia 18 dirigibles and
800 aeroplanes; Great Britain nine dir
igibles and 400 aeroplanes. and Ger
many 40 dirigibles and 1000 aero
planes Secretary Daniels said the
difficulty in this country was that man
ufacturers had not yet made an air.
craft suitable for the navy. Chairman
Padgett intimated that the committee
might later add q substantial sum TO
the navy bill to provide for airship de-
velopment.
Secretary Daniels told the commit
Tee that the naval war college had
been greatly strengthened He declar-
ed the strongest thing in the navy is
the practical instruction and techni-
cal training aboard ship. He said :he
time was past when more naval off,
GERS wanted shore Dsrths thai sea
service.
IF congress should pass bill to
proNide considerable increase in the
number OF submarines, you'd be glad
| of 1t. wouldn't your" he was ash I'd
"Yes, II 1t wouldn't interfer with our
program. wouldn't advocate. ilcw-
ever. an extravagant increasN r. sub
Marines" ii%.e
He advised against building any
sea-going submarines than tho one au-
thorized last year and the one asked
this winter. 4vittt
"The sea-going submarine" he add
Cd, "is still an experiment"
I'VE have tried to get satisfactory
type Of aircraft and have failed" the
secretary said, adding that the United
States Is only at the commenc s,uent of
aircraft development Contracts for
aircraft had been made in Germany
and France. He agreed that II looked
az II the, iatscd States wowla have 20
organize department of aviation "and
| build our own machines"
Senator Weeks, in his speech to the
senate, opposed agitation for special
investigation of military preparedness.
praised the strength and personnel of
the navy and urged the organization
of an army reserve.
anyone may learn about our mill
tary or naval establishment by read
Ing the reports Of the secretaries Of
the departments and tho reports OF
those who are conducting. the different
bureaus and branches Of the service" /"
said the senator,
I'm fact, there is and has been AL
| together too MUCH publicity In such
matters. in my Judgment. We have
had demonstration during the pres
ent European war of the value of Sc
crecy in conducting military opera
tions. and there is no reason why we
should spread broadcast what we are
doing or what preparations we have
made. have no doubt every European
country is informed in the most minute
details of our condition both on land
and sea, and IL any change in our
methods Is to be made It should. not
be In the direction Of greater publicity,
out should be TO protect our operations
even In time OF peace from scrutiny
both at home and abroad."s ~
AT this time." he llGontinued, "it
does not seem to me that It, Is wise
or prudent to take any .acti6n which
will change our policy or add TO our
naval equipment except by an omnibus
appropriation which can he expended
under the direction or the general
board OF the navy. with the approval
OF the secretary OF the navy and the
president. Based on the experiences of
the past, our naval establishment Ia
In class with that of Germany and
France and probably second caiy TO
that OF Great Britain
Senator Weeks maintained that the
army was insufficient and proposed its
reorganization not Ncr the purpose of
increasing the permanent active army
but for the organization, of a reserve
corps which would make available
large forces OF trained soidiers at oil
times. =
Through a reserve SSstsIn Senator