The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-10
DANIELS TELLSOF
PROGRESSOF navy
Secretary Is Proud of Its
Achievements: Tells of Big
Problems.
READY TO MEET ALL DUTIES
Vessels Commissioned and Manned
Since United States Entered the
War Number 745-More VoIun-
teers Than Could Be Used.

Washington. Dec. 10.-Pride in the
achievements of the navy since the
United States entered the war is the
keynote of the annual report of Sec
retary Of the Navy Daniels, made pub
lie today.
The report is carefully worded, so
that no bit Of information that might
be Of benefit to the enemy may be
communicated by 1t. The report OF
the general board Of the navy, which
has been charged with seeking solu-
tionS to the submarine menace and
other grave problems, Is suppressed
in its entirety. Only the general ques-
lions considered by the board are
given. In the secretary's report a
few facts come to light that have
not before been printed, but none Is
OF great Importance.
Secretary Daniels himself sums up
the report In these words:
"In the navy we have prepared for
and have met the duties of the pres
ent; we are preparing for and are
confident we will be able to meet any
call for greater duties, for more ex-
acting responsibilities. The best way
to secure enduring peace is to pre-
pare increasingly, night and day. for
the winning of the war, whether 1t
be long or short This we have done ;
this we are doing; this we will con-
tinue to do"
Bio Problems Met.
Problems that have arisen and have
been met since the declaration of war
with Germany are listed by Secretary
Daniels as follows:
Preparation for impending and ac-
tual war calling for the largest pro-
gram of construction, the best plans
to suppe the largest fleets, and the
study of new agencies to be employed
In war without precedent.
The eo-ordinating of our efforts with
those of the countries with which we
are aligned in the war.
The carrying on of offensive opera
tions against the naval forces Of our
opponents.
Providing safe passage for ships
charged with the duty Of transport
ing a large army across the ocean and
conducting military operations 2,OOC
miles overseas.
Maintaining available naval forces
In state of readiness for battle.
Providing additional fighting units
necessary to bring the war to sue.
cessful conclusion.
Training personnel to man the neY
units of the navy and to assist
manning the merchant marine.
Since the beginning of the war 745
vessels have been commissioned and
manned.
Too Many Volunteers.
The navy actually was embarrassed
In the early days of the war by the
eagerness with which young America
responded to the call for naval re
cruits.
"The navy's efforts at recruiting
were so successful that 1t was diff
ficult with the then facilities to take
care Of the flood of volunteers" the
secretary says. "There were various
threats of epidemics of the diseases
that appear when unseasoned meI
are suddenly assembled in large mum
bers."
These, however, were soon stamped
out, and at present the health OF the
navy is excellent.
Since the middle of July 1t has beer
necessary, the report states, to limit
enlistments In the navy to LOCO men
SIN this way we are getting a body
of picked men, AL enlistments II