New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-26
DANIELS PLANS
BIGGER NAVY
Must Be Ready for Any
Foe, He Tells Gov
errors.
OFFICERS TAKING
LESSONS FROM WAR
Executives Witness Sham Attack
on Flagship Wyoming and
Escape a Torpedo.

Boston, Aug. ga navy, steadily in
creased in size and efficiency so that it
will be ready to defend the country
against attack from any quarter, is the
aim of Secretary of the Navy Josephus
Daniels, he declared before the Cover
nors' conference to-day. He spoke at
an adjourned session on board the flag
ship Wyoming, of the North Atlantic
fleet, in Massachusetts Bay.
For two hours the Secretary stood on
the bridge of the flagship while Adj
miral Fletcher put the fleet through
intricate mannuvres illustrating at
tack and defence Then he Joined the
Governors in the admiral's cabin and
told them why he had made them his
guests for the afternoon.
"The navy must abide in the hearts
of the whole country if it is TO be
strong and powerful and made great"
the Secretary said at is for the peo-
pie, not the President or myself. to say
how great it shall be. As you go to
your homes you will speak the word
that will help to determine this ques-
ton.
"The greatest things that the navy i.
began there is not an officer in any
department of the navy who has not
taken advantage of the lessons taught
by the war. Experiments are proceed
ing day and night. and to-day in every
element our navy has no superior in
the world. We do have superiors in
size and numbers. and it is for us to
continue to strengthen our navy.
ShOuId Re Ready for Attack
81 believe we ought to increase our
navy steadily so that in time of stress
and emergency the real first strong
arm of our country will be ready to
defend our country if it is attacked
from any quarter"
The Wyoming picked up the Cover
nors at the Charlestown Navy Yard and,
taking a position a few miles east of
Boston Light, became the target of at
tack by twenty-five torpedo boat de-
stroyers after they had passed in re-
view with ten battleships.
Admiral Fletcher had prepared sew
eral surprises for his passengers, who
included the wives and stats of the Wis
iting Governors and former Governors.
The torpedo boat fotilla passed the
flagship at a distance of 800 yards and
then disappeared. They were followed
in double column by the battelships,
headed by the Arkansas and the Utah.
After the review appeared to have been
ended, the destroyers suddenly reap
peared in the east
On the flagship a general alarm
against torpedo attack was sounded,
and soon the big guns of the Wyom-
ing began to fire blank shots at the
onrushing destroyers. The latter cir
cled the flagship, pouring forth dense
volumes of smoke made by excessive
use of oil. Soon the destroyers were
hidden behind the black cloud that
isolated the flagship.
Dodges a Torpedo.
While interest was absorbed in this
manpuvre, the smoke screen suddenly
was broken by the destroyer Ammen,
for the Wyoming. The guns Of the
latter were Immediately trained on the
attack ship and Numbered away. The
destroyer, however. came on, and when
she had approached within 5000 yards
discharged a torpedo.
The missile was seen to strike the
water and then, submerged. made its
way toward the flagship. The latter,
however, on the instant had been put
slightly to starboard, under a full head
of steam, with the result that the speed
ing torpedo passed few feet astern.
Later the party went to the Eastern
Yacht Club, at Marblehead, where they
were entertained at dinner by the Bos-
ton Chamber of Commerce. Secretary
Daniels responded to a toast to Presi-
dent Wilson, declaring that the Presi-
dent had left nothing undone to put
the country in proper condition of
defence.
During the dinner telephone connec-
tions were established with Sacramento,
Cal, so that Governor Walsh of Massa-
chusetts could exchange greetings with
Governor Johnson.