Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-06-26
DANIELS ASKS FOR
A|RSH|PS AND SEA
GOING SUBMARINES
Secretary Says U. 5. Navy Is,
Far Behind In Modern
Methods OF War
WOULD MAKE navy OUR
STRONGEST DEFENSE
War On Land Revert To Old
Uses While Marine Shows
Advancement

Newport, R. l., june 20. Revolution.
ary changes in naval methods must be
devised to bring the American navy up
to date, Secretary Daniels told the
naval wtr college here today, He said
the development OF the submarine aud
tho activity Of airships had held Eng.
laud q mighty navy behind land lock-
cd barrier for the first year of the
European war. And the secretary
called upon the war college to find new
weapons such as win make the navy Of
the United States the greatest weapon
OF offense and defense in the world.
Daniels address bordered upon the
sensational at times. His hearers in
terpreted Il aB a plea for flccta OF sea.
going submarines and air craft.
:" While holding wisely to the good
Of the paut, such rs has stood the acid
test Of this great war, do not fear to
cast aside what have proven mere
shaekela Of convention and 20 daringly
forward, the secretary declared.
"While congress is from Missouri, and
must be shown, II will appropriate all
the money required FOR defense II the
college will justify the reasons"
Tho navy will never be satisfied
with the past Daniels said. II is cop
en'minded" and no suggestions are
rejected The ideRlist, as well as the
inventor Ia welcome 10 tell how II may
be improved, he declared.
The secretary said the program Of ~
battleships by 1919 would have been ex-
eecdcd up TO date II all sessions Of con.
gross had been as liberal as the Sixty
third. He said he expected the next
congress- would also be liberal and
would provide for weapons which are
not now in existence.
"As you look abroad, " said Daniels,
you see old tactics, old strategies and
old theories Of naval warfare which
have gone unchalenged since the
time Carthage and Rome grapplcd, dis
appearing over night, Silent sub.
marines clude great fleets, slip by i'm
pregnable fOrlresaes, thread their way
safely through narrow straits sown
with mines, aud In a moment transform
great batteships into useless masses Of
mnken iron aud steel Overhead,
dirigibles and aeroplnnes threaten new
danger and add new problems which
upset the old theories Of warfare. N
war upon land has reverted to the use
Of the bayonet and hand grenade, war
upon the seas has leapcd forward with
o single stride and broken almost every
shaeblo Of ancient conventions
eve have seen the main fleet of the
greatest nation OF the seas Ia the
world withdraw 10 the seclusion of
harboB without having fired shot
during the first year Of mighty con
flict.
"We have seen battles begun at
ranges which were believed impossible
and ships disabled by guns which were
slill invisible We have been told that
modern sea fights can be determined
/ In the flrst ten minutes, yet We have
seen that IL took ak hours 10 decide
one Of the greatest ocean battles of
/ the present war, Ships Of shallow
draft have been used as fortresaeH
along tho Belgian coast And sub
marlncs have glided unehnllenged past
/ imwegnnble Gibraltar.
"Eyey day something new arises 10
naval warfare. with what weapons aud
strategy shall 10 meet tho terror OF the
/ submarine aud the still unreyealed pos
dbilities of the airshipi
"lt is you who must supply the
answer. My earnest word and my
solemn plea IL 10 urge you fearlessly
10 discard the worship Of old thugs
and adop rourngeously that which h
new the momont the new convnccs yot
lt rs the path 10 victory"