Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-12-12
ADMITS THE pacific
IS NOT PROTECTED
SECRETARY DANIELS SAYS
WESTERN FLEET Is NOT
SUFFICIENT.
WOULD USE CANAL
Could Rush Atlantic Fleet There
Before Hostile Navy
Could Arrive.


w WASHINGTON Dec. ll.-Al-
w though the Pacific coast Is
not adequately protected for war, the
Atlantic fleet could b. rushed through
the Panama canal while any hostile
lleet would be delayed by the neces-
slty Of reducing Manila and Honolulu,
in the opinion Of Secretary Daniels.
who continued his testimony today
before the house naval affairs com
mlttee.
In tho course OF an all-day exam
nation the secretary also discussed
the difficulties OF constructing salts
FACTORY alrships and submarines. but
expressed his opposition to "extrav-
hsuht appropriations for either these
! branches Of the service. lie predicted
mat ultimately the government must
"uild IT'S own warships I'm navy yards.
Debated in senate.
While Mr. Daniels was before the
committee the question Of military
! preparedness was again under dis
cussion on the noor OF congress. Sen
ht"r Weeks Of Massachusetts declared
IN the senate that there was too much
| publicity Of military secrets. He
| pointed to the secrecy observed by the
nations now at war as an object les
son.
Secretary Daniels frankly told the
committee that there were no dread
| haughts or hrst-Class battleships on
! the FAcillc coast The only battle
snip there, he said, was the Oregon.
a 2O-year-old vessel The active naval
strength on the Pacific he gave as
nine cruisers, two Bunboats ono
transport, one torpedo fotllla, five
torpedo boat destroyers, three sub.
marines and one tender The reserve
Meet, ne added, comprised five ar
nored cruisers four torpedo boat de-
troyers and two submarines.
Don't Protect Coast.
do you think these vessels are
adequate protection TO the Pacific
coast for war; asked Representative
Stephens Of California.
No replied the secretary.
You would not commission the
oregon as drst-class battleship.
would you?"
No"
You wouldn't consider the Pacific
coast In any way provided sufficiently
for protection. insofar as the naval
arm or the government is concerned ?"
would not put II that strong.
IT we were to have trouble with any
nation we could send fleet through
the Panama canal"
you do not think any very mate-
rial damage could be done before the
feet could arrive on the Pacific coast
from the Atlantic coast?"
Il think the odds are the other
way one Of the reasons perhaps, a
chief reason. why be built the PAN
anna canal was to make II possible TO
have fleet to defend both coasts"
Fleet Is Sufficient.
Have we fleet sufficient to de-
fend both coasts"
Yes, sir; altogether sufficient to
defend both coasts
But 1t cannot befend both coasts"
Not at the same time. but there Is
hardly a possibility Of our being at
tackled on both sides at once"
An enemy, he added has got to
run the gauntlet Of our submarines in
the Philippines and Hawaiian islands
ana we could delay them good deal
with the fleet we have there now until
the real large fleet comes. II would
take about eighteen days. roughly
for the fleet 10 go from New York to
; San Francisco. provided the canal is
open and unObstrcted
The secretary made "A veiled allusion
TO emergencies during the Vera cruz
occupation which might have led to
taking half of the men off the At
lantc fleet to join the army in pro-
ceeding to the Mexican capital. In
! rpnlNr a IA .. bn o
battleships where gunboats would suf-
flee for the naval necessities of the
: situation, he said
Battleships Needed.
For instance. when the first Mex
ican trouble occurred in January.
1913 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 well.
, II we had had to blockade all tho
, Mexican ports all the battleships
, would have been needed If we had
gone to Mexico city, we would have
t had to take half the navy with us"
Asked II he agreed with the recon-
mendation of Captain Bristol Of tho
aviation corps for p sl.O0O.0O0 appro-
{ priation for airships, the secretary
SAID tnat was not TOO muCn II we
could get the air craft" but It was
too much as the airship situation
. stands.
1 Captain Bristol had advised the
, committee that, from the best infOr-
= nation available the United States
, had only % aeroplanes. including
those privately owned. while France
had % dirigibles and l.400 aero
planes Russia Is dirlgibles and 500
{ aeroplanes. Great Britain nine dirigi-
bles and 400 aeroplanes and Germany
40 dirigibles and 1000 aeroplanes.
No suitable Machines.
, Secretary Daniels said the diff
Guilty In this country was that manu-
, facturers had not yet made an air
I craft suitable for the navy. Chair
, man Padgett intimated that the COM
mittee might later add substantial
\ sum to the navy bill to provide for
I lirship development.
q Secretary Daniels declared he would
I be pleased II congress provided for an
q Increase in the number Of submarines
| Continued on Page Ten)