The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-26
Revolutionary Methods Must Be
Devised, Says Daniels.
Secretary in Sensational Plea
for Naval Efficiency. E
HOPE IN AIR and PLUNGERS
FavOrS Great Fleet of Subma-
rines and Sky Craft.
Lesson Is Learned From Great
War Raging in Europe.

Newport, r. T., June 26.-Revolu-
tional changes in naval warfare
methods must be devised to bring the
United States up to date, Secretary
Daniels declared today.
In a speech that at times bordered
on the sensational. he told the navy
war college that the submarines de-
velopment and the airship's utility
have held Englands great navy be-
hind landlocked barriers for the first
year of the great worlds war. Old
things have passed away, he said, and
he called on the members of the coll
lege to find new weapon which Will
make the American navy the greatest
weapon of offense and defense in the
world.
Those who heard his speech inter-
preted it as a plea for a great fleet
of sea-going submarines and aerial
craft.
Sees Congressional Aid.
He referred to the navy program for
the coming year and expressed conf1d-
ence that congress would authortze
any increase recommended.
'1n personnel and material, the
navy is larger than ever BEFORE" Mr..
Daniels said. Its men are trained
and fit. Its experts in every depart-
ment are active to remedy any de-
fects of the past and to take advan-
tage of all that has been learned in
the only true school in which this
knowledge may be learned from ac-
tual war.
"As you look abroad you see the
foundations of old theories crumbling
every day. Old tactics, old strategies,
old theories of naval warfare which
have stood unchallenged as almost
automatic since the armies of Car
thage and Rome grappled together in
the Mediterranean, are disappearing
over night. If war upon the land has
reverted to the bayonet and the hand
grenade, war upon the sea has leaped
forward at a single stride and broken
almost every shackle Of ancient con-
vention.
Great Fleet in Seclusion.
1--WE have seen the main fleet of the
greatest sea nation in the world with
drawn from the seas to some secluded
harbor without having fired a shot
during the first year of a mighty con-
f1ict. We have seen battles begun at
ranges believed to be impossible and
ships disabled by shots from guns as
yet invisible.
1--WE have been told that modern
sea fights would be determined in the
first ten minutes, yet we have seen
that it took six hours to decide one OF
the greatest ocean battles of the pres
ent war. We have seen ships of shall
low draft used as fortresses to protect
land armies on the Belgian coast.
1--WE read only yesterday of sub
marines gliding unchal1enged past the
impregnable fortress of Gibraltar and
guardian ships that watch the straits.
We have seen fast cruisers raiding the
coast and eluding their pursuers by
the help of dirigibles. lowering far
above and warning through the new
miracle, wireless te,egraphy, the ships
beneauh.
With What weapons.
with what weapons, by what STRAIT
egy shall we meet the terror of the
submarine: the still unrevealed pos
sibiIity of the airship? 1t is to you.
gentlemen, that this question must be
put. 1t is to you your secretary of
the navy looks for an answer. My
earnest word, my solemn plea today
is to urge you fearlessly to discard
worship of all things that are old and
to adopt courageously anything that
is new the moment that some develops
ment of the present convinces you
that the old way is longer the
right way or that the new way points
the path to victory.
81 hereby pledge myself to spare no
effort to assist this onward march.
Rest assured that what you plan will
find a sympathetic and attentive ear
] want to feel that when my term of
office closes my successor will find in
orderly arrangement the most perfect
plans and methods human wisdom can
invent, kept always up to date for the
conduct of our navy in time of war
and it is here that the studies neces-
sary for such plans must be carried
on"