Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-17
DECLARES NAVY'S
MEANS FOR LAYING
MINES INADEQUATE
Rear Admiral Fiske, of Cen
eraI Board, Tells House
Committee Only One Ship
Is Equipped.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE Unite,
states navy has bet one ship eaulppe,
70 lay submarine mines, according TO q
statement made today before the Hous,
Naval Committee by Rear Admiral Flske
member OF the General Board OF the
navy.
Admiral FislSe said this nation should
have more mine-laying ships than Ger
many on account Of the longer coast
iine OF the United states Germany has
hvo mine layers.
Representative Butler Of Pennsylvania.
atrenuously objected to this portion OF
Admiral Fiske's testimony He said the
Admiral should not be asked 70 discuss
such weaknesses in public
III were an unfrlendly nation" said
8utier, that Is exactly the kind OF in
formation would want. We tell the
world We have bet one ship to lay
nines"
THE other nations know IL any
way" interjected Representative Hobson.
What we want 10 do Is to let the people
OF the United States know the truth or
elae We VIII never get any more ships"
Admirai F1sks was permitted to answer
ttpbscn's question as to the equipment
f9r laying mines. The Admiral said:
1.-The only mine-layinR ship we have
now Is the San Francisco. She has about
sss mines, and that is all we have at the
present time We expect to NJ out the
Baltimore In a almonth or so and to make
her a mine-laying ship"
How many mine-laylng ships should
We haver' asked Representative Roberts.
Germany has Ave-" said the Admiral.
Ought we TO have that many7"
''Yes. J. think we should have five more
VR n
coast Is much shorter than ours"
Representative Hdbson called attention
70 reports that the German cruisers which
bofnbarded the English coast yesterday
left mines In their wake as they put to
sea. He asked
Have we done anything toward equip
ping our feet to leave mines behind them
IN this manner?"
Practically speaking. we have not"
said Admiral Fiske, I'VE have done |
nothing that amounts to anything"
Admiral Fiske said further with regard |
20 mines and air craft:
II think Il Is well known that we are
behind other great nations In the use
OF mines and air craft and in case of
m attack upon our coasts the need wocld
be kseniy felt If It should be involved
in q war we might be attacked very
quickly" He estimated that Germany
has 2O.O0O mines available.
Asked about the attack yesterday on
Hartlepool and scarborough the Admiral
the opinion that If some sub
marines had been there the German at
.empt would not have been made.
''Are we not in better condition today
o control the sea than ever beforeY
Witherspoon asked.
mo. because three other nations have
made greater advances than We have In
he development OF their navies."
N"En the event OF war our policy would
lave TO be to sndeavOr to get control OF
he sea. II we we're to attack the enemy, {
70 would try to get control near him. !
+ we were attacked by the enemy he
rould try to get control near us. Con- {
rol b essential wherever the fight may
%. In attempting to get this control we
rouId have to use all the arms we could,
attIeships. cruisers, scout cruisers, de-
troyers and on our own coasts, ub-
1arIne do not know whether we could
AXE submarines as FAR as Japan. that
a question"
II think you had better not mention
ny particular nation demonstrated
hartman Padgett at Admiral Fiske's
eeerence TO Japan.
Admiral Fiske then changed his reply
0 foreign waters"