Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-04-04
Subcommittee Will Begin
Framing of Measure
Immediately.
DANIELS ATTACKED
And Then He Replies to
Numerous Charges Made
Against Him.

WAsHINGToN. April s-The
w house naval committee brought
to an end today its prolonged hearing
on the 1917 naval appropriation bill.
Secretary Daniels closed a three day
statement before the committee with
u final appeal in support of the ad-
mnistration's five-year building pro-
gram. A subcommittee will begin
framing the bill Immediately.
1t became known tonight that a
determined effort would be made to
provide for six capital ships, two
ldreadnaughts and four battle cruisers
as compromise between the rec
| concentrations Of the secretary and
of the navy general board.
Mr.. Daniels parried all efforts to-
day to get from him "A statement as
to what relative place among naval
powers the United States should oc-
cupy He said the five-year pro-
gram he had mapped out would not
put the country in second place, in
his judgment, and that the present
congress could not be asked to make
up for the deficiencies of twenty
years past. At the close of the Euro
pean war, he said, he believed a
great opportunity would come for
international limitation of armament
and with "a strong building program
adopted the United States would be
in better position to urge that
movement more successfully than if
its fleet were weak
DivulSins Secrets.
Representative Butler of Pennsyl-
vania. Republican. assailed the secre-
tary's recommendations for a govern
that the specifications for navy armor
piercing shells were so high that they
could not be met by manufacturers
and also declared that he had reason
to believe that the specifications for
navy 14-inch guns and other material
had been revealed during Mr.. Dam
| iels' administration to the Russian
and German governments. He sug-
gested that Rear Admiral Strauss,
chief of ordnance, be asked to pro-
duce letter to the Krupp company
| of Germany.
Admiral Strauss was summoned lat
er and read the letter in question. 1t
was a reply to an offer made before
the war by the krupp company to
supply 14-inch guns for the United
States navy. The ordnance bureau
answered that If guns to meet the re-
quirements outlined In the offer could
be provided the company's bid would
| have attention.
These are not the specifications of
our 14-inch gun" Admiral Strauss
said. They arc for a much superior
| gun"
Both the secretary and the admiral
| said they had no knowledge of any
plans or other Information having
| been impaired to the Russian govern
ment.
| lie Answers Charges
In answer to Representative But
ler's assertion that the armor piercing
shell specifications were too high,
Admiral Strauss produced the records
of the department to show that the
Midvale and Crucible Steel companies
had delivered large quantities Of
shells that had passed the tests.
Secretary Daniels replied at length
to criticisms of himself implied or
stated during the testimony of Rear
| Admiral f1Ske. former aide for oper-
ations, and became involved in a
warm controversy with Representa-
tive Brtteu of Illinois, Republican.
| Responding to questions by Chairman
! iadgett he said Admiral F'iske ahd
sought appointment as commander of
the Atlantic fleet when Rear Admiral
Badger retired and had repeatedly re-
quested 1t, to the secretary's great
| embarra ssment. Mr.. Daniels said he
told Admiral Fiske that Rear Admiral
Fletcher. then commanding a squad
ron in Mexican waters seemed entitled
to the appointment Admiral Fiskc
replied that Fletcher did not want 1t.
the secretary said, and asked that the
appointment be held up until he could
write to Fletcher. This was done, AIc.
Daniels said. and when Fletcher re-
piled that he would be honored by
the command he was appointed and
from that time on Admiral Fiske was
not in harmony with the navy depart
ment.
"Our first difference" said the see
retary, was over the wine mess ordes.
Admiral tiske was greatly agSrieyed-
He said navy officers would so to
using cocaine. Ny only regret about
the order is that | did not issue 1t on
March when | came into office M
stead of waiting"