Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-23
Reports of Encounter Re-
ceiJed by Naoy FiOe
Days Before State
ment Is Issued.
TBy Associated Press. !


public to-day. explains at length the
information on which he based his
statement Of July regarding subma
rine attacks on the American cxpe-
dictionary force, and reveals that incon-
elusive reports of the encounter had
reached the Navy Department five days
before the statement was issued.
The secretary wrote. in reply TO SEN
/ ator Tillman, chairman OF the Naval
Committee. who sent letter of inquiry
after a resolution had been introduced
in Congress requesting that the depart
ment submit the text of Rear-Admiral
Gleaves's dispatch on the subject The
resolution was not passed
In his letter Mr. Daniels defends the
statement, and assures the Naval Com
mittce that the text Of the Gleaves dis
| patch is subject to it's inspection. al
though II obviously cannot be made
public. He writes as follows:
Late in the afternoon Of July ).
the welcome news came that the last
ship Of the conveys and transports
carrying tho first American soldiers
| and marines to fight in France had
reached it's destination in safety. with
out accident or injury to men or ships
The Navy Department had known for
, five days prior to their arrival that two
| attacks by submarines had been made,
and you can we'll 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 apprchensivc every minute since
! June IS. when Admiral Gleaves. in a
brief cable. had reported that subma-
| rines had made attacks upon two divi-
sions of the transports.
JOIN IN EMULATION
OVER SAFE ARRIVAL
| "As soon az the news was communi-
J Gated by an officer Of the department., I
| hastcned TO the War Department to ap-
| praise the Secretary of War Of the
fact. for knew he had felt the deep
| est solicitude. as he. too. was informed
| OF the attacks. II was in no formal
manner. ] assure you. that the good
neTs was given to Secretary Baker,
and we shook hands in exultation over
the safety OF our sailors and soldiers
and the accomplishment OF the first
stage Of giving present military aid to
the allies.
I'm expression OF his feelings. Sec
| Ietary Baker sent the following letter:
War Department.
Washington
July 5. 1872.
My Dear Mr.. secretary,-word
has just come TO the War Department,
= haf
| Fershing's expeditionary force to
France arrived safe to-day AS YOU
know. the navy assumed the respon-
| sibility for the safety of these ships
on the sea and through the danger
, zone. The ships themselves and their
conveys were in the hands Of the navy,
and now that they have arrived. and
carried. without the loss of man. our
soldiers who are the FIRST to represent
America in the battle for democracy,
beg leave to tender to you, to the
admiral. and to the navy. the hearty
thanks of the War Department and
Of the army. This splendid achieve
ment is an auspicious beginning. and
! 1t has been characterized throughout
| by the most cordial and effective CO.
operation between the two military
| services
Cordially yours.
NEWTON D. BAKER,
"'Secretary of War.
HON. JoSEPHUS DANIELS,
Secretary of the Navy"
PROOF OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF ULTIMATE COOPERATION
| reply:
rha af,r ~
Washington, July 4, 1917.
My dear MIR. Secretary.-The navy
| accepts the thanks and gratitude Of the
army as an expression Of fraternal es-
| TEEN rather than as an acknowledge
ment Of sole achievement. The move
ment of the expeditionary forces, car
ried out with such complete success.
was planned in joint conferences and
| goes TO the people as proof Of the
effectiveness that lies in intimate CO.
operation between the two great mill
tary branches Of the government.
This generous concentration of ac-
| tivities is as thrilling a thing to me as
the safe passage of our transports
through the ocean lanes. With army
and navy thinking as one. planning as
one, fighting as one, the great purpose
OF America, is expressed in terms of
invincibility
I'm behalf Of the men whose courage
| gave safe conduct to courage. 1 send
to you the greeting of the navy await
| Ing in full confidence for the day when
the valor OF your soldiers will write
new and splendid chapters in the
heroic history Of our liberty-loving
land. You who have shared with mo
the anxiety Of these days Of intol-
cradle suspense. will know the full and
happy heart out of which I write
Sincerely Yours.
"JoSEPHUS DANIELS"
Hon. Newton D. Baker.
Secretary OF War.
"At once statement was prepared
! and given out that evening, which
knew would intensely crafty all Amer
leans. The message OF Rear-Admiral
Gleaves, announcing the attacks. OF
| Continual on Second Page.)