New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
Rear Admiral Quizzed by
House Committee on
Tribune Exposures.
DOUBTS WISDOM OF
DANIELS SCHOOLS
Crozier Says Army Has
Only 3S Per Cent of
Reserve Ammunition.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau.l

I
paredness of the navy and the lack OF
feet practice caused Rear Admiral
Charles L. Badger, recently in COM
mand of the Atlantic feet and a mem
Der of the General Board of the navy
to undergo rigid cross-examination for
five hours before the House Naval Al
fairs Committee to-day.
Discussing the unpopularity Of the
schools Secretary Daniels has estab-
lished aboard ships, the admiral frankly
admitted that he doubted the wisdom
of the academic courses, and said they
were disliked by the men. He said,
furthermore, that School" has to be
abandoned when there is any real work
for the men to do-such as maneuvres
or target practice.
Admiral Badger approved the idea Of
vocational training for sailors. He said
he saw no objection to these courses
of study, but the recent commander in
chief of the Atlantic fleet was quite
unenthusiastc about the study hour in
elementary things.
After rapid-fre questioning, Admiral
Badger admitted that possibly one or
two ships" of the Atlantic feet failed
to share in target practice and maneu-
vres during the last year. Asked to de-
tail the amount of practice the various
ships had had, Admiral Badger said
he could not furnish this from memory,
but promised to supply the committee
with a statement Of the movements OF
each ship mentioned in The Tribune
story. The admiral insisted, to the best
of his recollection, that the Atlantic
feet ships had had both individual and
division practice.
Practice Schedule Upset.
He acknowledged, however, the con-
ditions at Vera Cruz and the fact that
certain ships had been overhauled at
navy yards might have disarranged the
regular practice schedule, although as
serting that sooner or later the requi-
site amount of practice was had. All
these matters, the admiral promised,
would be set forth in his written state
ment to be supplied later.
Admiral Badger made radical recon-
mendations concerning an increase of
the navy. He informed the committee
that this country needed 100 subma-
rines for defence purposes on the coasts
and about the insular possessions. At
present the navy has thirty subma-
rines built, nineteen building and eight
to be contracted for. That this nation
should have by 1919 a total of forty
eight battleships of the first class was
also asserted by Admiral Badger. The
navy will not be an adequate navy,
Admiral Badger said, until it has these
forty-eight ships.
The admiral's statements concerning
the need of more submarines and bat
tleships followed the general discus
sion of the unsatisfactory conditions
of the navy as referred to in The
Tribune.
In advocating 100 submarines, Ad-
miral Badger said he did not desire the
committee to sacrifice dreadnoughts in
order to furnish the undersurface ves-
sells. He insisted that this nation must
keep pace in constructing both battle
ships and submarines.
He referred TO the Recommendation
of the General Board ten years ago for
four battleships a year. II was contem-
plated by the board, he added, that the
United States should have forty-eight
ships Of the first class by 1919. He
told the House committee to-day that
he still regarded il as necessary TO
have a navy of this strength. Count
ing the South Carolina and the Mlchi-
gan. there are now seventeen ships Of
the first line built and building and
twenty-five so-called pre-dreadnoughts.
Badger Favors Air Ships.
Admiral Badger also recommended
larger appropriations for airships, say
inc that both submarines and airships
have proven their worth in the Euro
pean conflict.
The hearings on the naval bill are
behind closed doors, but IT was learned
from several members OF the commit
tee that large part Of the hearing was
devoted to questions which have been
raised by The Tribune in its investiga-
tion of the administration of the navy.
Representatives Roberts, Farr and But
Ter are expected TO quiz Admiral
Fletcher tomorrow. Representative
Witherspoon, who was a leading cross
examiner to-day, will also take a hand
in examining Admiral Fletcher
That the General Board is not in
svmpathy with the modest recon-
mendations of the Secretary Of the
Navy was indicated when Admiral
Badger told the House committee that
n should authorize Immediately the
following auxiliary vessels: Two hos
pital ships, two supply ships, two am
munition ships, two transports and two
tankers. The estimates of the depart
ment covering auxiliary vessels make
requisition for none OF these vessels
except one tanker.
The prolonged examination Of Ad-
miral Badger, largely due TO The Trib-
une disclosures, has postponed the ap-
pearance Of Secretary Daniels before
the committee. The Secretary is not
scheduled to appear before Thursday,
and he will be required TO testify even
more fully regarding the condition in
which the navy is now pictured
Representative Roberts. following
the hearing to-day, said he would seek
information tomorrow from Admiral
Fletcher concerning the failure of most
OF the ships OF the Atlantic feet TO
mobilize off the Virginia Capes when
ordered to do so by Admiral Fletcher
as he took command In September.
Croxier Talks for Army.
Lessons drawn from the European
war were discussed before the House
Continued M par a column