New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-14

innuendoes insinustinR evil motives,
DR.. Charles r. Jefferson ana o'neIs
have also made similar charges lhe
well endowed and unetuous peaoe
lsborer subsidized by the mulu-atmo,
plate millionaire verify goe'h soou'
seeking bad smell. ,u.
"Tho organisation represented oy me
undersigned the Navy League or tne
United States has taken particular
pains 20 rely solely on the interest," snd
financial support Of citizens whose mo
tiyes have been purely ratriotie sno
urselfsh. The Navy League - NOV
supported by membership ices ana VOL
untary contributions. Moreover 'nS
other patriotic societies mentioned
should. until definite evidence IS torih-
coming 20 the contrary, be likewise
considered az volunteer movements
founded on love Of country.
Secretary Josephus Daniels will 90
on the grill again tomorrow before the
House Committee on Military Affairs
and probably will end his testimony
during the day. After having testihed
for two days concerning the general
policv OF the navy and his disagree
mcnt with the General Board over the
building programme, the Secretary
will now be brought down TO specihc
matters, and Representative Roberts
and other members Of the committee
will ask about the lack Of feet practice
and .hc shortage OF submarines on the
Atlantic coast.
Admiral Fletcher. commander Of the
Atlantic feet. has testified In conhrma-
ton Of The Tribune's exposures, that
there IS only one submarine IN irst
class condition now on that coast. lie
also has admitted that there has been
an interruption Of feet practice since
the ships first went TO Mexican waters
in 1918. but the House committee mem
hers desire 20 get Secretary Daniels
views on these conditions.
Not to Call Roosevelt.
Captain Ycstes Sterling, commander
Of the submarine feet, will follow Mr..
Daniels. The calling of Captain Ster-
ling was requested by Representative
Butler. following Admiral fletchers
testimony as 90 inadequate submarine
protection FOR the Atlantic seaboard..
Captain Sterling may be asked II ne
made a protest TO the Navy Depart
ment recently i'm regard 20 the unpre-
parcdness Of submarines and TORPEDO
boat dcstroycrs. only 20 be rebuked.
He probably will be asked II he called
the attention of the Navy Department
20 the fact that, on November last,
when the submarine fotilla assembled
AZ Hampton Roads, only one OF the
seventeen in the fleet could submerge.
Reports that the five destroyers
now in the Philippines are useless Tor
actual service will probably be
brought 10 his attention.
Chairman Padgett said tonight that
the committee might summon other
naval officers before ending its hear
ings. On the list now, however. were
only Secretary Daniels and Captain
Sterling. He did not think il neces-
sarv 10 hear Assistant Secretary
Franklin D. Roosevelt. although there
is a discrepancy In the estimates OF
the assistant secretary and Rear Ad-
miral Victor Blue ss to the shortage
Of men in the navy.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt re-
Gently issued a statement saying the
navy was short approximately $4,000
men. Admiral Blue told the House
committee that the shortage was about
$500.
The only difference between these
two officials" said Chairman Padgett,
els on the question Of the war strength
OF the navy and the number OF vessels
they would commission. Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt's figures call for
manning practically every vessel in
the navy 10 a full war basis, while
Admiral Blue did not seem TO regard
il as necessary to man so many yes
sells. The admiral's figures include
only the vessels he regards as readily
available for warfare, and ] do not
think the discrepancy in the figures is
serious matter. The committee can
easily obtain information giving the
name Of every ship and the strength
Of the navy and can figure out for
itself what the actual shortage is"