Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-07-02
Critics of Secretary of the
Navy Headed by Congress-
man Gardner Insist That
He Follow Byan'S Example,
CABINET OFFICER IS
FIGHTING BACK HARD
Draw Battle Is Present Status.
of Argument Over Efficiency
and Preparedness of Uncle
Sans Sea Forces.

tssrc,Al cosstseoHo6nes 70 MORNING JOURNAL |
WASHINGTON. July l. - Critics of
Secretary of the Navy Daniels are de-
manding that he follow in the foot |
steps Of William Jennings Bryan, foot ]
steps which lead straight outward !
from the cabinet Daily verbal and
written attacks. some of them under
the self-appointed Leadership of Con-
gresham Augustus r. Gardner are
being fired at the head of the navy
department.
Daniels. however, is fighting these at
lacks, many of them based IN hypO-
thetical conditions. with data showing
more and better ships more enlist
ments and better satisfaction among
the men already enliEted, and state
ments Of an improved discipline.
Battle Draw So Far.
So far the battle appears to be a
crcditable draw.
Gardner, in his assumed task of re-
forming the navy, every little while
brings out a statement in which he in
corporates confidential reports Of the
navy department. Nobody knaws OK
acty where he gets these but he prob.
ably has agents who trail with dis
gruntled sea dogs, When he seizes
one of these precious documents
Gardner issues singer for Daniels
hut in order to get the widest publ
city he issues them in advance with
release date.
Daniels Spikes the Guns.
ThereupOn Daniels. who appears to
have some workers on his side. gets
wind Of what is in Gardeners broad
side and before the date of publica-
ton makes a speech somewhere in
which speech he traverses the same
ground and cuts the novelty out of
Gardner's creed.
This week Gardner issued state
ment for release Sunday morning. IN
which he attacks the navy's record Of
craftsmanship Daniels hurried over
to Newport. r. L., and addressed the
war college on craftsmanship, dread
noughts, seaplanes, areaplanes ana
submarines. Iosephus saved his dis
lance by day
"Old tactics, old theories the sec
rotary said. ARE crumbling over night.
New and terrible instruments of de-
struction for the first time have ap-
peared under and over the seas. Tho
submarine. slipping past Notifications,
threading narrow. mined straits has
Knocked great battleships into sunken
junk
Every OdN EbIllFtlllUE HtN III naval
warfare arose and every day, he add
ed some man with big idea came
to the department There was but one
standing order with reference To such
visitors and that was that all must
have receptive minds toward new,
novel and even revolutionary sugges-
tions.
The speech of the secretary not only
spiked the Gardner gun for this time,
but for all future time II is in fact.
an invitation to Gardner to come to
the department and show how the
navy can be improved.
In his latest outpouring Congress-
man Gardner had the doubtful taste
and wisdom to quote confidential re
port of Admiral Fletcher on the
craftsmanship of the battleship Mich
igan.
Capt. Ciark's Efficiency.
When Captain Clark was rushing
the OREGON around Cape Horn to the
battle of Santiago he sent the navy
department the famous telegram:
Don't tangle me up with orders.
Clark brought his ship around in
record time and sent her into the bat
tie in fine order His ship and his
conduct, in the opinion of many naval
officers were a high point in naval
efficiency from which we have sadly
degenerated under the oVerlOrdship OF
Josephus Daniels.
Daniels is hated and despisod by
the navy because Of his close control
of every move. That he is naturally a
martinez is not indicated in his ma
ture Daniels is open minded, cheer
full and unsophistcated It is appar-
ent that he Is acting under orders in
keeping such close tab on the high
officers of the fleet that they com
plain they are reduced to the plane OF
puppets and long for the days when a
Clark could suggest that the depart
ment let him alone. or Dewey fear
ing red tape interference could cut
a cable to separate hmselt from ms
government
1t appeared TO be a settled conNlc-
ton in the present administration that
naval officers are too prone 10 pu'
"honor" above peace to be trusted
In the English navy, an admiral has
large discretion. If he makes good
use of it, he rises. II he fails or raj
tiers, down he goes to an obscure sta
ton The opposite theory that naVa
officers cannot be trusted to dct lol
their country without embrolling II II
war, seems to be dominant nowadays
When an American launch was tree
upon i'm Turkish waters the secretary
of the navy gave out some Of the flct'
and Immediately cabled the com
mander on the spot to take no actor
until he heard from Washington
Admiral Mayo lay off Tampico viii
his guns trained to protect American
on shore. He was ordered nine mile
to sea- and the rescue of American
devolved upon Britishers.
Admiral Badger sailed into YER
Cruz and captured the place on direc
orders from the president, but there
after the sailors Of the American flee
were hampered in their natural desir
to protect themselves from snipers b
orders not to return shot.
Howard HampcTed by Washington.
A naval force under Admiral How
ard was sent TO protect American
from Yaqui incursions at Guaymai
Mexico. His orders from Assistan
Secretary Roosevelt were to use hi
discretion. but when Secretary Dan
iels got back to town the newspaper
Immediately began to say that Howar