Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-13

iIAaRue convention nerS tO0ay stirred up
wave Of denunciatioH Of the secretary
:, the meeting and dew Kisses from
an. part Of the hall. The admirals pa
,.r. previously published in Naval In
s,,tute. an official publication Of the
navy war college. was read by William
Mather Lewis. Of Lake Forest, Ill, while
The meeting cheered rqlndly.
Colonel Robert NJ. thompson, presi-
dent Of the league. read a letter from
secretary Daniels denying q request that
tho admiral read the taper and declar-
ed: '' ~
II desire to express my sorrow that
the Navy Department should take this
narrow view, SO strongly in conflict with
that taken by the waridepartment. This
question goes behind q mere depart
mental wish. 1t invoi YES the constitu-
tional right of free speech that an off,
Ger Of fifty years service, acknowledged
AZ one of the leadersIo his profession,
should be denied theJright to say that
two and two makes four"
Colonel Thompson'R mention Of Secre-
tary Daniels name bought Kisses from
q part Of the house.
Henry Reuterdahl and William H.
Stayton Of New Yorl attacked the sec
. retarys position andlReuterdahl declar-
ed that wholesale gigging Of navy off,
GERS does not come originally from the
navy department bit from the White
House.
Secretary Daniels1 letter gave as q
reason for his positiin the attitude TAX
en- by the department recently when Ad-
mral Fiske was notpermitted to speak
to the Commercial Club Of Chicago on
naval AFFAIRS. Then the secretary wrote
that he thought it better for civilians
to lead the fight Acknowledgement Of the
navy and for naval Officers to continue
an unbroken policy II not trying to in
fuence legislation.
Naval experts" hA wrote then, will
give their views to the naval affairs
committees iii Conkress and hearings
will be public. Thf gives to Congress
and the people the opinions of experts"
If any here wan s to defend the Sec
retary's position, lei them arise" shout
ed Reuterdahl.
No one arose I'd the defense of the
secretary. -... -.
Admiral hske's Paper
Lack OF logical method in the devel-
opment Of the American navy was de-
plored by Rear Admiral Bradley A.
Fiske's paper on NAVAL Strategy"
The admiral did hot appear in person,
his paper being read by a delegate.
I'm the elementary parts of the ma
val profession" said the paper. I'VE
do very well, but of the higher
branches, particularly Of strategy, we
have little clear conception. 1t we
compare the strttegical methods en-
ployed by, say, Tsermany, and us, we
are forced to admit that the German
methods are better adapted to produce
economically a tavy >fitted to contend
successfully in var against an enemy.
In Germany TIM development of the
navy has been strictly along the lines
of method carefully devised before
hand; in our country no method, at
least no logical method whatever, is
apparent.
EnsIa ind Supreme
Comparing the American navy with
that Of England Admiral Fiske declar-
ed that it was "a coherent policy of
development and wisdom of strategy
which more than any other factor has
made Great Britain the An1fstress of
the seas, and almost the mistress of
the world"
Admiral Elsie pointed out that in
this country Congress alone decides
what vessels shall be built and how
many officers and men shall wear the
uniform. ut Is true" he said, that
they consult the report of the secre-
tary Of the navy and ask the opinions
of some naval officers. And the advice
of these navSl officers is not SO valua
BILE. possibly as it might be, for the
reason that it is really irresponsible
since the advisers themselves know
that it will not. be taken very serious
ly."
Startling Assertion
If japanese fleet conveying troop
transports should appear off the coast Of
California, pr adjacent Mexico, with the
command that we abandon our Asiatic
exclusion Iplicy or fight, and the canal
was BLOCKED, l doubt not we should, In
stantly abandon our exclusion policy"
was the startling assertion of Henry A.
Wise Wood of New York, formerly a
member Of the naval advisory board
1T maybe said with accuracy that we
nave no foreign policy at the moment"
said Mr.. Wood. with the destruction
VI our citizens upon foreign merchant
SHIPS, we offer no armed interference.
nor do we offer armed interference when
our citizens upon foreign soil are de-
stroyed. their wives and children out
ragged. their property conhscated"
Germany, Japan and Russia were plac-
ed by Mr.. Wood in the active group of
sea power nations with one or more Of
which the United States might become in
volved in war. while he put Great Bri-
tain, Frame. Italy and Austria in the
passive group. in normal times there be-
ing on conflict between the policies Of
these countries with those Of this nation.
A Mt naval policy for the United States
REQUIRED. said Mr.. Wood, an Atlantic
force superior to that Of Germany, q Pa
CHIC force superior to that Of Japan and
protection for the Panama canal.
Revenue for Preparedness
Isaac N! Seligman, New York banker.
gave his opinion Of how preparedness
should be advanced. He recommended
increase q the income tax. an inherit
ance tax necessary, and additional rev.
enue from the tariff and from various
classes OF stamp taxes.
The weakness Of the American army
and navy was pictured by Charles 6.
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