The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-12-20
Secretary Daniels Appears
as First Witness Before
House Board Inquiry.
SEVERAL HUNDRED
SHIPS ARE ADDED
Tiff Caused When Repre-
sentative Britten Queried
Witness of Adj. Sims.
(By Associated Press)

Washington, Dec. 19.-RecitaI bv
Secretary Daniels Of how the nav.
prepared for war by adding several
hundred ships to the fleet. and letting
contracts for hundreds of others. in
Guiding dreaduaughts, battle cruisers
destroyers. and auxiliaries, and ex-
plantations Of operation Of the navy
supply department by Rear Admiral
MCGOWAN, paymaster general, marked
the opening inquiry by the house sub
committee into the navy's war activi-
ties. Secretary Daniels told the COM
mittee the navy had more than
thousand ships in commission against
three hundred two years ago.
Secretary Daniels gave a general
review of what the navy has been do
ing, avoiding as he explained. disclos-
ing any facts that would be of value
to the enemy. He told how the navy
is now building 424 capital and other
important ships.
Discussing the use Of submarine
cl1asers. he said, they We're regarded
as a necessity, but there was mo
great enthusiasm about them as
great weapon for permanent effective
ness. !
| Naval aviation. he said, has niads
pered by lack of manufacturing facil-
ities.
Secretary Daniels praised the co-or-
dination between the personnel of the
navy and the personnel of the allies
One of the great problems, he said,
! was to furnish gun crews to merchant
ships.
awe made these reserve ships said
f@r. md
the efficiency with which these offic-
ers have taken hold of the young men
and made the young men efficient is
really one Of the big things of the
navy in this war"
tWhen you come to write the story
Of the war" said he, "one Of the most
thrilling chapters will be regarding
these young men who went the
merchant ships and risked their lives.
/ refer to those who went on our own
merchant ships, OF course. We have
put guns on every ship going into the
submarine war zone that requested it,
1--WE are rather proud the secre-
tary said. ''of the way the navy has
met the actual test of war. l am glad
for congress and the public TO know
somewhat of our activities. Taking
stock, so to speak, cannot fail to bring
ways for still further Improvement
and for still more efficient work in
future. We feel we have done well,
but we still have problems. some Of
them very difficult, which we have
been trying to solve in the best way
possible in the very brief time allotted
to solve them.
ITO the best solution Of these prob
lens we hope to have suggestions ana
help from this committee and from
congress. We do not claim that we
have done everything in the best pos
sible way or that we have made no
mistakes. believe however, when
you know all we have attempted we
will receive your confirming Judgment
that we have done as we'll as possible
under all circumstances. In some
things creditable speed has achieved:
in some things there has been team
work in the department and in the
entire service to have things well
done and thoroughly done
Secretary Daniels told how, In the
exigencies at the outset of the war.
keeis had been laid where there were
swamp lands but a few months before
and how mechanical equipment had
been developed
Most of the contractors he said had
been fair and patriotic.
There have been a few" he said.
I'VE had to take by the nape of the
neck: they came in saying thew
wanted to do their bit but really
wanted their bite"
He did not like the cost plus 10
per cent" system, he said, but il was
the best the navy could do 70 get
quick action and it had been necessary.
tiff between Secretary Daniels
and Representative Britten enlivened
the session. Rr.tten asked what COM
plants had been made to tie navy
department by Vice Admiral Sims.
I think that is not proper ques-
ton to ask said Secretary Daniels.
Il will say, inasmuch as the question
has been asked in open session, that
Admiral Sims has been given every
fCop$5ni1od fror, E;r-+ Day.