Evening star., 1917-05-17
Numbers Not Disclosed.

DeTS NOC DlSClOSeQ.
1t was reiterated at the department that
for obvious military reasons the number
and names of American war craft in
European waters or to be sent at some
future dates would not be disclosed.
Naval strategists have no intention of
disclosing their purposes to the German
admiralty
! Some navy officers indicated that
steps would be taken to effect closer
cooperation with the British admiralty
| as to the nature of news as to Ameri-
can ships to be made public and also
as to the means of publication. whether
| through the admiralty or the Navy De-
partment. 1t was argued that mas
much as the operations involved are in
European waters, the wishes of the al
lied governments should dictate as to
what was to be regarded as secret for
military reasons: but some officers here
manifested a desire that information as
| to American vessels which is to be dis
closed should be disclosed through the
Navy Department.
| Formal announcement that American
destroyers manned by picked crews
| have carried the flag into the war
| zones of Europe and are operating
against German submarines with Brit
| ish and French war vessels has been
made by Secretary Daniels. The num-
| ber and names of the vessels were not
disclosed. 1t was made clear, however,
| that the fighting power of the nation
| was to be exerted to it's utmost to
stamp out the U-boat menace.
Regarding a report from Queenstown.
Ireland, of brush between United
States vessels and the enemy, the Sec
| retary says that the Navy Department
has received no such report. The Sec
retary's statement follows:
United States naval vessels have
been operating with the allied naval
forces in European waters since May 4.
A number of destroyers sailed from
American ports in the latter part of
neil oil nrrfu OF hai dos inn
ton without accident or delay of any
kind. They were ready for operations
when they arrived and went into serv-
ice Immediately.
Rear Admiral Sims in Command.
"The United States vessels are un-
der command of Rear Admiral Sims,
who went to England and France sew
eral weeks ago to arrange for active
cooperation between the naval forces
of the United States and those of the
other nations at war with Germany.
Plans formulated after reports from
Rear Admiral Sims. made as a result
| of his conferences with the British and
French admiralties, are now being ef-
fectuated.
'1t has been the purpose OF the
United States Navysto give the largest
measure of assistance to the other
countries at war with Germany that Is
/ lconsistent with. the full and complete
iprotection of our own coasts and terri
torial waters.
"The Navy Department has received
ino reports that engagements have oc-
CURED between the United States yes
| sells now in European waters and the
vessels of the enemy"
| Has Worked Out Plan.
| The disposition of the destroyers has
ibeen left entirely to Admiral Sims. who
l. afJu n n IA
of the vessels placed under his COM
mand after conferences both with the
British and French admiralties. Ad-
miraf Sims was selecved for the task
because of his wide general experience
lin the navy and also because of par
| ticular training in destroyer opera
| tions.
Destroyers have proved the most eff
cient foe of submarines. Their value
| has been so great that all possible ef-
fort has been concentrated by the Navy
Department upon adding to the Amer
ican fotillas in the shortest time. More
\ than fifty new boats, swifter, more
powerful and seaworthy and more
heavily armed than any now in service
are being built with all possible haste.
lSeveral will be commissioned early in
the summer. Others will be ready a
few months later, and still others at
l Confidence in Craft.
American destroyers are sturdy craft.
built for duty at sea. and the confidence
of the department in their dura ability
has been fully justified by the fact that
|. they arrived on the other side of the
Atlantic ready for immediate service.
The department is guarding closely
it's plans for sending other craft than
destroyers into the fighting zones.
There can be no question. however, that
every element of the fleet that can aid
| in the fight will be used to it's utmost
The report from Queenstown that the
sailors of the American destroyer flo
tilla, which has arrived in the war
zone, were not supplied with warm
enough clothing for the cold latitude
WAS explained today by the fact that
the destroyers sailed from American
ports before the supplies could be put
on board.
| Complete outfits of heavy wooden and
) rubber clothing for all are now on their
way to the men, The crew of every de-
! stroyer which has left subsequently has
been completely outfitted.
To the women of the United States il
due the credit for this measure of pro.
lection. Under direction of the Navy