The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-05
FORT|FIChT|ONS
IN GOOD SHAPE
DEFENSES AT NEW YORK
CAN DESTROY ANY AT
TAcKING FLEET
OPPOSITION TO
INVESTIGATION
As to Preparedness of United
States for War Is Expressed
by Representatives.
tBy Associated ( pnss.

fr4l i +. !.
WASHINGTON. Dec 4.-opposition
to Representative Gardner'a raea1i.ti...f
for an investigation by @ commission
into the preparedness OF the United
states for war was expressed TO Pres
ident Wilson today by Representatives
Fitzgerald and SherIey. ranking mem-
bers OF the house appropriations COM
mittee. Both told the president they
were preparing: to speak on the sub
5ect In the ho;ise
II am against any spectacular In
yestigation into this subject" said Mr..
Fitzgerald. "Ali the facts are avail
able now, and through hearings before
q regular committee and debate on the
floor the question will be thoroughly
review
Mr.. Sherley told the president that
statements attributed TO Mr. Gardner
that the defenses OF New York were
andquatod were incorrect. He declar-
ed the Notifications OF tho United
States were In excellent shape and
added that army officers had inform
ed him that the defenses at New York
could destroy any attacking fleet. The
president will go into the question fur
ther Monday. Whe.t he will ase Mr..
NtsAAA eAiA4 k,ChAtQEkf GkltttE-
man OF the senate naval committee. 5
ST. LOUIS Dec 4.-sAugustffs r..
Gardner, congressman from lfassnchu-
5ettE, iii au addr5s5 be2osss sstss 9 s((iii-s
TEN rrborary Club here tonight replied
to Secretary Daniels, etatenaht re-
garding recent assertions OF Mr. Card
ner as to the adequacys OF American
naval and military preparations.
II state without fear OF successful
contradiction" ne said, Hthat the big
guns on the latest dreadnoughts OF
Great Britain and Germany are OF
such long range that the baftleships
can stand mile and q half outside
the range OF the guns ON the fortifi-
cations of New York and dernolish
those forts.
Secretary Daniels" said Mr.. Gard
ner. "has given out q snecinl renort
from Admiral Straus to prove mislead-
Ing my declaration that OF long range
torpedoes there are only So in the
navy
II reiterate my statement that there
are 511 torpedo tubes on the ships of
the navy and there are $50 long range
torpedoes built. Building Spr appro-
priated for. ~ III r.i b s.
"If this statement is incorrect &c Is
not my fault. / obtained the informn-
ton from Admiral Straui himself.
There is not @ single ASure given In
N 'peech OF Octobef 16 or I'D my
statement cf GSttUber Is not
49, sfed cy consultation with high
army and navy ofiicials or else taken
direct from the ofi1cial publications.
MANY OF my figures were prepar-
ed for me In Secretary Daniels' own
department
"I observe that Admiral Straus is
quoted as instancing the torpedoing
OF three British cruisers at 500 yards
range to show that long range torpg-
does neither are required nor desired
for submarines. / cannot give any
opinion on Admiral Strauss. views,
but his argument win not stand Ia
spection." 81. &
Mr.. Gardner said O congressional
Inquiry into the national defease
would reveal many absurdities. nota-
bly,, tl5E there is no coordination In
the preraration OF military end naval
appropriations.
"one comittee looks after the for-
tifications, another the army, q third
the navy" he said. ssThe Qualifications
committee provides for the guns for
the regular hnd volunteer army; the
army committee provides the guns
for the militia. Can anything bs more
absurdT q IS u y
Mr.. Gardner, has art appcintfnsnE
| to discuss the matter OF d ccngreaston-
al inquiry with President Wilson. BY!
request OF the president, Ntf. Gardner
will see him alone. g, 81 y