Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-05
TO COOPERATE ON PLANS
FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE
Subject Of Conference Between Dan
iels and Garrison and Repre-
sentatives OF Congress.
FINAL APPROVAL UP TO WILSON
Effort VIII BE Made to Balance Va
rious appropriations in Conforms
ity With General Policy-Lack OF
Coordination, Says Rear-Admiral.
ASHINcTnN

WASHINGTON. January 4.-Co-
operation between the governments
executive ana Legislative branches in
appropriations for national defense is
the object OF conference arranged to-
day between Secretaries Garrison and
Daniels and the chairmen Of the SEN
ate and House Military and Naval
Committees
The conference will he held to-mor-
row night. and. besides the four COM
mittee chairmen. other Democratic
leaders have been invited. 1t is gen
orally expected an effort will be made
10 balance the various appropriations
In conformity with "A general policy to
promote the national defense, plans for
which will be submitted To President
wilson for final approval Various
oiiis Tor increase In the regular army
VIII be one OF the principal topics
While this conference was being
planned. the House Military Commit
tee to-day heard Representative Gard
ner. of Massachusetts advocate his
oroposal for Il commission to invcsti-
gate the countrys military prepared
ness. and the naval subcommittee
wound up it's work on the naval APP
proprintion bill
The subcommittee Incorporated in
the naval biz a provision creating the
pfilcc OF chief of operations. under the
Secretary OF the Navy. with four
GEAR tenure of office. and to be held by
rcar-admiral His duties would be
20 supervise all naval preparations for
war emergencies.
The subcommittee also provided for
an increase OF forty-one commissioned
officers In the marine corps. and the
promotion of l10 noncommissloned Of
Beers.
The administration provision to
create naval reserve, designed to pro-
duce ultimately reserve OF $4,000
OF 4
With amendments.
LACK OF Co-ORDINATION
CHARGED BY KNIGHT
Lack OF coordination between the
Navy department. the Atlantic feet
and Congress is charged by Rear
ADMIRAL Austin NJ. Knight, in charge
Of the Naval War College. IN report
dated nt Newport, December 16 and
embodied in the revised record OF hear
ings made public to-day by the com
mitiee. Admiral knights statement
was brought out by teieGrams sent by
Secretary Daniels to Admiral knight
and To Rear-Admiral Fletcher. asking
whether there is lack of coordination
in the administration of the Atlantic
fleet and what the Naval War College
says 1t should accomplish?''
While Admiral Fletcher reported the
same day from New York that he knew
OF no lack OF coordination at the
present tiitlc, ana DcucVet 'th9t the
present coordination meets with the
War Colleges fun approval" Admiral
Knight made this statement:
THE War College believe that lack
OF coordination does exist in the fleet;
between the Navy Department and the
fleet, and between the Navy Department..
the fleet and Congress. the college does
not regard this rs a new situation.
although IL happens to be at this mo-
mcnt unusually acute. The remedy
rests partly with the ncct where every
thing that can be done already is In
preparation; partly with the depart
ment, where plans already have been
formulated for more extensive manoeu-
vres than ever before, and chiefly with
Congress. where there already Is pend
ing bill for Il council OF national
defense, which more than all other
agencies combined, would make for a
coordination of all government
agencies, many of which lie far outside
the fields OF the navy and the Navy
Department"
ADMIRAL Knight cited the diversion
of hattlcships and torpedo craft to
uses widely different from tina. for
which they exist. with resulting inter-
ruBtion OF preparation for battle and
the breaking down OF efficiency lie
said This in many cases was the resul.
of lack OF cruisers anl gunboats
NAVAL. E.NTENDITUEES
FOR CURRENT YEAR
Among other data just added to the
Continued on Second PageD