El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-12-20
HAS DONE
WELL, THANK YOU
DANIELS SUAVELY
ADVISES PROBE
Proud Of Way 1t Has Met
Test of'War Says
Secretary.
SMALL TILT WITH
PROBER BRITTON
10y Leased Wire to New Mexican.)

Washington, Dec. 19.-Secretary
Daniels, t~estifying today before the
house naval subcommittee, delegated
to begin an investigation into the
navy's Var activities, gave a general
review of what the navy has been
doing, avoiding, as he explained, dis
closing any facts that would be of
value to the enemy. He told how
the navy is now building 424 CAPT.
tai and other important ships.
Discussing the use of submarine
chasers, he said there was not great
enthusiasm" about them as a weapon
for permanent effectiveness.
Naval aviation, he said, has made
gratifying strides, but has been ham,
pered by lack Of manufacturing ia
c%ilities. Secretary Daniels praised
the coordination between the person.
mel of the navy and the personnel of
the allies. One of the great prob
lens, he said, was to furnish gun
! crews to merchant ships.
I'VE made these reserve ships"
said Mr.. Daniels, "a school for gun
ners, and the efficiency which these
officers have taken hold of the young
men and made the young men eff
cient is really ne of the big things
of the navy in this war.
When you come to write the
story of the war;" he said, zone OF
the most thrilling chapters will be
regarding these young men who went
on the merchant ships and risked
their lives. I refer to those who
went on our own merchant ships. of
course. We have put guns on
every ship going into the submarine
wal zone that requested it."
we are rather proud" the secre-
tary said, "of the way the navy has
met the actual test of war. I am
glad for congress and the public to
know somewhat of Jul activities. A
taking stock, so to speak, cannot fail
to bring ways for still further i'm.
provement and for still more eff.
cient work in the future. We feel
we have done well, but we still have
problems, some of them very diff
cult, which we have been trying to
solve in the best way possible in the
very brief time allotted to solve them.
Fol- the best solution of these prob
lens we hope to have suggestions
and help from this committee and
from congress. We do not claim
that we have done everything in the
best possible way or that we have
made no mistakes. | believe, how
ever, when you know all we have
attempted, we will receive your con.
firming judgment that we have done
as well as possible under all circum- !
stances. In some things creditable |
speed has been achieved; in all
things there has been teamwork in |
the department and in the entire
service to have things we'll done and
thoroughly DONE"
Secretary Daniels told how, in the
~exigencies at the outset Of the war, |
keels had been laid where there
were swamp lands but a few months |
before, and how mechanical equip |
ment had been developed. Most con-
tractors, he said, , have been fair |
and patriotic. There have been a
few" he said, eve had to take by
the nape of the neck; they came in, |
saying they wanted to do their bit,
but really wanted their bite"
He did not like the cost plus 10
per cent system, he said, but it was |
the best the navy could do to get |
quick action, and it had been neces.
sary.
Tilt With BrItton
A tilt between Secretary Daniels |
and Representative Britton enlivened
the session.
Britton asked what complaints had
been made to the navy department |
by Vice Admiral Sims.
Il think that is not a proper ques- |
ton to ask said Secretary Daniels.
II will say, though, inasmuch as the
question has been asked in open
session that Admiral Sims has been
given everything that the navy has
that it could give"
Secretary Daniels said he did not
believe mess gossip" should be
banded about"
IF Admiral Sims" he added, "is
getting everything that is needed,
1t is a matter for operations TO say
whether he should have It. Opera
tions has spent itself giving all that