The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-12-20
CHARGES BRITTEN WITH
PEDDLING GOSSIP ABOUT
NAVY
Denies That Admiral
Sims Complained
Says Submarine Chasers Were
Temporary Device and Will
Give Place to Other Vessels as
Soon as Possible.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19-Represen-
tative Britten started the house naval
investigators this afternoon by asking
Secretary Daniels if he would tell the
committee about complaints against
navy methods made by Admiral Sims,
commanding the American naval fore
es abroad.
"Will you furnish the committee
with all the complaints that you have
from Admiral Sims regarding the
methods of the department in COM
plying with his various requests ?"
asked Britten.
Secretary Daniels first parried the
question and accused Britten of pet
ty gossip.
Later he said:
Admiral Sims has made no com
plants He did ask for a particular
officer who could not be sent to him.
On the contrary his letters have
shown a most perfect understanding
between him and the department.
There is no question but that he has
received everything he has asked for
that the navy could supply"
1--WE should not deal with petty gos-
sip,' said Daniels, first in reply to
Britten. "All these things should be
discussed in executive session." he
added. "If there has been any gossip
it should not be handed about"
"You do not think them" said Brit
ten, that we should know of the navy
departments failure to comply with
: Admiral Sims requests. / hope it is
not the purpose of the navy or of the
committee to show only the favorable
side of the navy"
"It should not have been asked in
open session." said he, "but since it
has been 1 will reply in public"
He then declared that any questions
involving policy or naval strategy
should not be asked in public. Chair
man Oliver acquiesced in this view
\ and Britten's questioning ceased.
"Is any officer either in active SER
vfSe or on the retired list interested
in contracts or acting as an agent for
contractors?" asked Representative
Littlepage.
mo, sir" replied the secretary.
"Is there any objection?" asked Rep
resentative Britten, "to your discuss
ing the taking over Of the merchant
ships by the navy?"
Both Mr.. Daniels and Chairman Oh
iver thought this should be discussed
in executive session.
The secretary refused to be drawn
into an admission that the American
submarine chaser had been failure il
the war.
He would not admit that the triple
screw was a failure as Mr.. Britten de
clared a French official told him.
1.-THE submarine chasers We're nee
essary as temporary expedients," con
tinued the secretary. "The princiDa
functions of the chasers is to locat
submarines. They have never beer
regarded as part of our permanen
equipment. They would not have beer
built at all if we could have obtainei
larger ships. We do not intend Il
build any more chasers."
The chasers cost between $42,0
and $5e.000. the secretary said.
= Mr.. Daniels at the outset of th
/nearing, read preliminary statemen
to the committee. In this he review
ed the authority conveyed in the nava
apnropriation hills since 1915 and ex
planned the building program advocat
ed in these acts. At present 428 capi
tai and other important ships are un
der construction, he explained.
do you not think our CENSORSHIP
- has been carried to silly extremes
NSsl1ed Representative Britten when Nj
ISSiels paused in his statement.
rive have no censorship of tn
press" said Mr.. Daniels. 1--WE max
requests of the press but we have n
law. With ninety per cent of tn
press that is as good as law. J hav
been verv much heartened bv the ai
titude of the press. A few naners hav
heen on the border line of treason
but they have been very few"