The Washington times., 1915-05-30
GARDNER ACCUSES
.SECRET ETARY DANIELS
Charges Him With "Uncandor"
and misleading Statements
Regarding Submarines.

In caustic letter to Secretary DAN
ieis, who Is accused of ''uncandor" and
misleading statements regarding the
condition OF the submarine ihotilla. Con-
gressnlan A. r. Gardner asserts today
that this is not time for wretohed
policy Of silence" regarding the condi-
tion OF the fleet
Mr. Gardner dissects the statement OF
Secretary Daniels of May 7, wherein
the Secretary referred to the long runs
OF the Second and Fourth divisions OF
The Atlantic submarine flotilla. Mr.
Gardner says:
Totally Misleading.
That is without qualification a to-
tally misleading announcement. In tho
first place. you ought to have told the
country that the submarine feet In Its
long run. was conveyed by vessels car
fying gasolene and other supplies, and
repair shop. You ought not to have
mentioned D-3 She was not there. She
completed five-months overhaul at
Norfolk on April %. She was exhibited
In the North river review in the fleet OF
twelve submarines and immeditely
afterwards was quietly sent to the Navy
Yard for further repairs. instead of
manuevcring with the fleet. You ought
to have said so.
This is no time for the wretched
policy Of silence. You ought TO have
told us that another submarine In full
commission, the G-3. could not be got TO
the review at all. She now lies at the
New York Navy YARD.
You speak of n routine overhaul in
your explanation Of the sorry record of
the second submarine division. 1t was
no routine overhaul which the second
division was undergoing when crit
cised for unseeworthiness and criti-
cised for a good many other things as
well. The second division was not or
dered for overhaul until after the
criticism was made and it was no ordi-
nary overhaul such as you imply"
After picking out other alleged mis-
leading statements in the press an
nouncement of Secretary Daniels, Mr.
GarCner concludes:
Challenges Secretary.
Il think you will agree with me that
1t is a great pity not to explain these
matters clearly and simply. For In
stance, you said that the submarine
fleet has just accomplished one of the
longest steady runs ever accomplished by
American submarines This wording
resulted in a very false impression. One
OF the great metropolitan dailies. friend
ly to you. commented on 1t as breaking
the worlds record
When the Atlantic feet steamed out
for maneuvers ths other day. D-3 and
Ga could not accompany it. XII the
latest model completely and E-2 broke
down the first day of the maneuvers.
There are eighteen submarines in the
Atlantic, OF which five are at the Pan
anna canal. Twelve Of them were pa
raded the other day at New York
Eleven of them went to sea to ma
neuver with the feet. At l a. m. Sun
day last a certain radio message was
intercepted by your Department. :. This
message was sent from the Prairie. sub
marine flagship. TO Admiral Fletcher
and it read Only Ave submarines re-
main available Don't you think 1T
worthy OF reflection that out Of the pitt
ably small fleet OF thirteen subma rines
only five remained available after less
than q weeks maneuvers?
Il challenge you to publish certain
letters from the commander Of the sub
n arine iotilla dated November 2 and
November %. 1914. Both arc addressed
TO Admiral Fletcher. They describe tho
condition of the Atlantic sumbarine no.
tiIla."