Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-10
READY TO MEET ANY FLEET
EXCEPT GREAT BR|TAIN'S S
Rear Admiral Fletcher Testifies as
to Preparedness of Ameri-
can Navy.
BEFORE HOUSE COMMITTEE
No Doubt of Ability of United States
to Control Seas In Naval Conflict
With Japan-Advocate of Dread
noughts.

WASHINGTON, December 9.-The
ability of the American navy success
fully to meet the war fleet of any
serted to-day by Rear-Admiral Flet-
cher commander-in-c -chief of the At
lantic feet, before the House Naval
conflict with Great Britain was SO re-
mote. tho admiral said, that he did
not believe I'm naval policy designed
TO control the oceans as against tha.
country.
Admiral Fletcher was under exam
ination all day by the committee at
the first public hearing on a naval ep-
preparation bill held in many years.
He was piled with many questions
about the condition of the navy, judged
by lessons of the European war. Al
though confidently declaring the Amer
lean navy was overmatched only by
that of England, he added that IL this
country continued to build only two
battleships year Germany, on the
basis of her present construction pro-
gram, soon would be far In the lead.
The admiral said he had no doubt
in the ability of the United States to
control the seas In n naval conflict with
Japan, but when questioned specific
ally, he would not say that the Amer
lean fleet alone could successfully de-
fend the Philippines and Hawaii
against a Japanese expedition.
Ultimate naval success Admiral
Fletcher contended. must rest with
Dreadnoughts. Submarines, no de-
clared, would not seriously affect the
vital principles of naval warfare. He
admitted. however that from a foreign
navy viewpoint it was possible to send
submarines across the Atlantic to at
tack warships on the American coast.
fnII,D NE Made nJcAnV
FOR ACTION WITHIN A WEEK
In the event of war, he said, all
American battleships available could
be made ready for action within a
week.
Secretary Daniels will appear before
the committee tomorrow. Comman-
der Sterling, who. Admiral Fletcher
said, was responsible for tho care of
all the submarines. has been asked to
testify on Friday.
The examination to-day developed
the admission that of seventeen sub
marines on the Atlantic Coast. includ-
ing Panama. five are detained on per-
manent stations at the Isthmus. four
are being overhauled, four are just
going into navyyards for repairs, and
three are undergoing alterations. Only
one is left in active service, Admiral
Fletcher said. Admiral Fletcher said
the latest American submarines were
j
torpedocs. but they would be.
Admiral Fletcher's estimate of the
comparative naval strength of the
United States was made in reply to n
query by Representative Witherspoon.
Representative Williams. OF Illinois,
asked the admiral IL he thought the
United States could successfully resist
Japan If the fleet had to defend Hawaii
and the Philippines In their waters.
THAT is Il question, OF course. that
is exceedingly difficult to answer" re-
piled the admiral. 81 think that our
more powerful fleet could keep con
troll of the seas as against Japan. But
as to the ability of the fleet alone to
defend the Philippines. would depend a
great deal on conditions. l wouldn't
say that the fleet alone could do IT,
SEES NO NECESSITY
FOR CONTROL OF SEAS
DO you believe asked Reresenta-
tive Gray. that we at tho present
time, should increase our navy so that
we could control tho seas?''
81 sec no necessity for adopting that
Continued on Second Page.)