The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-04-14


of the navy. There was John Branch
under Jackson of South Carolina:
Badger under Harrison, "old Tip.
pecanoe and Tyler, too" Graham un-
der Fillmore; Dobbin under Pierce;
and now comes Daniels under Will
son, who was brought up in South
Carolina but got a part of his college
training in North Carolina and knows
something about the quality of the
North Carolina output in men and
resources.
Mr.. Daniels is now serving his third
year and has been more abused than
any of his predecessors since Gideon
Welles, the Connecticut Yankee of
Democratic faith, who had the con-
fidence of Mr.. Lincoln in time of the
nations sorest distress just as Mr.
Daniels now has the confidence of
Mr.. Wilson in the most trying period
through which this country has passed
in its relations to the rest of the
world. George Creel has told in
late number of the New York World
moving story about Daniels and
his administration of his office, and
has given in the secretarys own words
the first answer he has made to the
slanders and abuse heaped upon him
by so many of the socaled "leaders
of men," One of Mr.. Daniels cabinet
associates recently expressed his ad-
miration of the fine courage displayed
by Daniels in the bitter experiences
through which he has passed and who
when reviled has reviled not again
but has taken his punishment with
out complaining( confident that he will
be justified by the event. The story
Creel tells is the truth about Daniels.
Building Up the Navy.
When he became secretary of the
navy he found that it was 5000 men
short of the number allowed by law.
He has added 6.365 men to the SER
vice in three years.
There are 700 men of the navy in
prison now; there were 1900 when
he went into Office.
Under the administration of George
won L. Meyer, his immediate predeces-
sor, who has been one of the most
unfair and persistent of Daniels
critics and defamers, there were over
10000 desertions from the navy.
There has been a reduction of II per
cent In desertions under Daniels.
Fifty-two per cent of the men dis
charged in good standing from the
navy under Meyer reenlisted; So per
cent are reenlisting under Daniels.
The United States navy is not as
strong as the German navy today.
not on account of Daniels failure to
do any of the things required of him
but because for nine years, from 1903
to 1912, when the Republicans were
in charge of the government, the
recommendation of the general board
of the navy, with Admiral Dewey at
its head, were disregarded steadily,
and the German navy passed the
American navy in fighting strength
secretary.
The board recommended a policy
of continuous building. OF Sd dread
noughts recommended, Is were au-
thorized; of 40 cruesers recommended,
five were built.
Adding to Submarines.
There was not a single seagoing
submarine when Daniels went into
office; there are three now of the
latest and largest model.
There were four aviators then;
there are 18 now.
There were 1 1928 men on ID ships
to care for 20 submarines carrying
831 men then; there is a submarine
f1otilla now under the separate COM
mand of rear admiral of the navy.
There was one mine laying ship
then; there are three now, besides a
fleet of seagoing tugs and fleet OF
torpedo boats with mine sweeping
equipment.
There was an inadequate and out
worn system of wireless equipment
for the ships of the navy then; there
are IS ships with radio equipment
now, besides which every submarine
in the navy has been equipped with
radio and three new shore stations
have been added to the chain of such
stations
The navy now has 81 mines for
every one it had two years ago. There
are two torpedoes now where there
was one then.
Under the administration Daniels
has secured from congress for the
upbuilding of the navy $4,000, 900 as
compared with $26,O0O,OOO secured by
Meyer during the last two years of
his inefficient service in the same
office.
Last October, according to the Of
ficial reports of Admiral Fletcher. the
scores made by the navy at long
range practice were the highest ever
made in the open sea, and 90 per cent
of the shots fired at the longest range
would have hit ON nnnrn,r rh;r