Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-09
AMERICAN NAVY READY
FOR BATTLE IN PACIFIC
Rcar-Admiral Blue Tells House Com
mittee That Fleet Is Prepared
for Any Enemy.
DECLINES To REVEAL SECRETS
Congress Is Progressing Toward Pre-
parednesS, and Committees Arc
Shaping Legislation Continental
Army Scheme May BE Abandoned.

W.iSHINGTON. February S.-Con-
gross made progress to-day on ma
tiona preparedness measures.
The Senate Military Committee closed
its hearings on the army bills. The
Senate Naval Committee reported ia
vorably the bill for government
armor-plate plant and recommended
immediate action on two navy measures
which passed the House yesterday. On
the House side OF the Capitol the Naval
animation Of Rear Admiral Blue. chief
OF the Bureau Of Navigation. while tho
Military Committee received tho pro-
rosals OF tho American Red Cross for
greater government aid In Red Cross
preparedness plans.
During the day the Military Commit
tees OF both houses heard delegations OF
pacifists, who argued against any army
and navy increases.
The most striking statement brought
out ut any OF the hearings was that OF
Admiral Blue. who declared that tho
American navy was now ready 10 mcct
any enemy II might hc called upon to
encounter in the Pacific. He declined
TO say what steps had been taken in
the last year and Il half toward pre-
pairing tho navy against emergencies.
holding these to bc military secrets.
Chairman Padgctt supported Admiral
Bluc in his determination not to re-
veal departmental secrets. ovcrruling
Representative Brittcn's attempt to find
hn
navy is now ready to fight" Mr. Brit
ton asserted that tho general board Lad
warned tho department. a year ago
that it should prepare. and he wanted
TO know just what steps had been
taken.
The senate Military Committee prob
ably will begin Tomorrow the prepare
tion Of the bill ii will propose To build
un adequate land drfcnscS. Present IN
dIcations are that the administrations g
plan TO create n Federal volunteer army.
TO be known as the contincntals, will
he included in this bill in some form
There viii be provision fur a rcorgan-
i@aiion OF the regular army, and Chair
man chamberlain ana several OF his
committee members will urge perma-
ncnt force with the colors OF more than
100000 men, as against Secretary Ciarri-
sons rccommenda tions for a skeleton
orga niZation OF 10000
CONTINENTAL. ARMY SCHEME
MAY DE ABANDONED
The House Military Committee will
complete its hearings probably next
week. The continental army scheme.
many committee members believe, will
he abandoned in the bill il will
submit in favor OF measures designed
to fcderalizr the National Guard under
militia pay provisions.
The Senate Naval Committee is not
expected to take up the appropriation
bill dealing with the preparedness $
building program until the House com
miitce is we'll advanced with its work
1t VIII be six weeks or two months.
Chairman PadEctt. OF the House com
Mittcc. has estimated. before hearings
will close there The building program
has not been dealt with directly go far,
tho committee having confined its at
tention 10 items dealing with the
equipment ana upkccp or ships now
in service. building or authorized
To-day's examination OF Admiral
Blue disclosed tho source OF the state
ments contained in Admiral Fletchcr's
last annual report that the Atlantic
Fleet was short 5000 men OF its proper
complement. Various boards OF fleet
officers determined upon the number OF
men thought necessary for vessels OF
each type year ago, Admira! Blue
said. and these greatly increased the
number for each ship. Admi al
Fletcher based his statements on these
figures, he added aud the shortage un-
der authorized complcmcnts was loss
than 1000. which had since been
remcdied.