The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-23
STORY WAS TRUE.
Daniels Explains Details of T.
Boat Attack on Conveys.
Says CreeI Gave Out Facts, but
Not Exact Report.

Washington, July 23.-Secretary
Daniels has explained the alleged
elaboration of Admiral Gleavess re-
port on the submarine attack against
the Persning transports. 1t is con-
tanned in a letter to Senator Tillman
in response to the latter's inquiry.
An overpowernig sense of joy in
both war and navy departments upon
the arrival of the troops, says Sec
rotary Daniels, dictated the phraseol-
ogy of the announcements of their en-
counter.
The exact dispatch of Admiral
Gleaves was not made public, the sec
retary says, because it came in code.
Mr. Daniels assumes entire respon-
sibility for the version of the incident
which reached the public. He refers
to the story, coming from the Creel
bureau and generally supposed to have
been the product of the Creel COM
mittee, as the statement which
gave to the public
IF the terms battle and attacked
in force are open to criticism Sec
rotary Daniels says, 1.-The fact still re-
mains that the rejoicing was war
ranted''
His letter to Senator Tillman fol-
lows:
Daniels Letter.
81 Late in the afternoon of July 8, the
welcome news came that the last ships
OF the conveys and transports carrying
the first American soldiers and ma
rines to fight in France had reached
its destination in safety without acct
dent or injury to men OF ships. The
navy department had known for five
days prior to their arrival that two at
tacks by submarines had been made,
and you can well understand the pain
full anxiety lest torpedoes should have
caused the loss of some of the brave
men who were carrying out this haz-
ardous enterprise. You may imagine.
therefore, the unspeakable relief to
me which the news announcing the
arrival of the last ship brought. This
relief was, of course, shared by all
others in the department who had
been apprehensive every minute since
June %, when Admiral Gleaves, in a
brief cable had reported that subma-
r1nes had made attacks upon two di-
visions of the transports.
las soon as the news was COM
municated by an officer of the de-
partment, 1 fastened to the War De-
partment to apprise the secretary of
war of the fact, for 1 knew he had felt
the deepest solicitude, as he too was
informed of the attacks. 1t was in
no formal manner, l assure you, that
the good news was given to Secretary
Baker, and we shook hands in exul-
tation over the safety of our sailors
and soldiers and the accomplishment
of the first stage of giving present
military aid to the allies
Mr.. Daniels then quotes the formal
exchange of congratulatory MESA ges
which passed between him and Secre-
tary Baker. He resumes:
Statement Conveyed Feelings.
'+At once a statement was prepared
and given out that evening which L
knew would intensely crafty all
Americans. The message of Rear Ad-
miral Gleaves. announcing the attacks,
of course, had not been given to the
public, and consequently it had been
spared anxiety. When the foreboding
ended their rejoicing would have ex-
ceeded anything 1 can express
THE statement which L gave to the
public conveyed the feeling of all who
lad been waiting and hoping for the
reassuring telegram.
The facts were stated not in the
very words of the Gleaves cablesram.
for it is the immemorial policy of the
department in time of war not 20 en-
ploy, the language of a message com
| ing in code. Otherwise it would be
! easy for the enemy to learn the cipher.
Moreover, the message of the rear ad-
niral contained the names of the
ships, which for military reasons are
never given out during a war. The
/ language used, as reference to the ca
blegram will show. was therefore not
the identical language of the cable
gram, but contained the material facts
CT the safe arrival of the transports
| and conveys. the deliverance from
conclusion of that, part of the enter
| JriSe.''