New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-04
DANIELS DEFENDS
NAVY'S CONDITION
in Fine Shape" Says SEE
rotary, Replying to
Lodge.

Washington, Dec. 3.-Retort to Sem
ator Lodges observations concerning
the alleged unftness of the navy was
made to-day by Secretary Daniels, who
denied several statements made by the
Massachusetts, Senator.
Senator Lodge has been member
Of the Naval Affairs Committee of the
Senate for many years" said Mr..
Daniels, land if he knows, as he says,
what we have, why does he want an
inquiry? Congress determines what
the navy shall have. II Congress VIII
appropriate for more ships, the navy
certainly will build them. think he
ought TO read the bureau reports,
which are always open to the pubic,
the reports for the present year having
been available of them-for the
last week. and which are complete IN
every respect. ! will be more than glad
TO furnish Senator Lodge this informa-
ton if he has not seen il in the cur
rent reports
Concerning Senator Lodges state
ment that the navy was insuiiiclentiy
supplied with aeroplanes, Mr.. Daniels
said that in his last report and the re-
port soon to be made public he ardent
" advocated the fullest development
of the aviation branch of the service.
He replies to Senator Lodges COM
plant that there are not enough sub
marines in proportion to the feet by
saying that the United States has a
larger proportion OF these vessels than
any nation except France.
81 have been particularly interested
in the submarines" Secretary Daniels
said. land last year upon my recon-
mendation Congress appropriated for a
larger number OF submarines than they
had ever appropriated for in a single
year, and authorized a distinct depart
ure and advance by providing that one
of these ships should be Of the seago-
ing type, the first that any nation will
possess"
Of the lack of feet manpuvres and
divisional drills, Mr. Daniels said:
The fact is that | myself have at
tended two feet manpuvres and tar
get practices, one in the spring and
one in the fall of 1918, and feet
mannuvres were also held in the
spring of this year The ships are just
now returning from Hampton Roads.
where they have been engaged in the
fall maneuvres and target practice.
While the feet was at Vera Cruz Ad-
miral Badger found time practically
every week for divisional maneuvres,
including tactical, gunnery and torpedo
exercises. In his report OF the opera
tions of the Atlantic fleet at Vera Cruz
he said:
$50 far as practicable a programme
of a week in port followed by a week
outside for work under way has been
adopted for the battleships.'
"If the fleet has not enough ships
in it all | have to say is that upon
my recommendation Congress ordered
three dreadnoughts for this year and
only one for the year before. We have
been making progress, and the navy Is
in fine shape"
A statement by Admiral Straus, chief
of ordnance, in reply TO Representative
Garlner's assertion that the navy was
deficient in long range torpedoes, was
also made at the Navy Department to-
day. Admiral Straus said:
"The ffty-eight long torpcdoes
so often referred to as the only ones
the navy possess are Of the 21-inch, 81
foot type. and there is no ship in the
United States navy yet in commission
that is prepared TO take them. They
were manufactured for new construc-
ton. beginning with the Nevada and
the Oklahoma, and these two ships will
not 90 into commission until about the
end OF next wear"