Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-18
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BREAK WITH HNAVY LEAGUE
ANNOUNCED BY DANIELS
AL Unofficial Connection With Navy
Severed rs Result Of Re-
cent Charges.
NO GIFTS WILL BE ACCEPTED
Thousands Of Women Throughout
Country, Now Knitting Articles for
Sailors, Must Give Them Through
Some Other Agency.
tBy Associated Prcss.l


WASHINGTON. August 17.-All un-
Official connection between the navy
and the Navy League was severed to-
day by order of Secretary Daniels as
a result of the recent action OF the
league headquarters In charging that
investigation Of the recent fatal ex-
plosion at Mare Island Navy-Yard was
being blocked by Influence of labor
interests. /. - . .ll..,. (. -
The secretary gave notice to the
public that no representative OF the
league would be admitted hereafter to
any naval station or ship. and that
nothing whatever would be accepted
by the. navy from the league as at
present onicered and managed.
Thousands OF women throughout the
country are knitting sweaters. wrist
let's and other articles for sailors. un-
der the auspices of the Navy League.
To-day's notice means that these will
not be accepted unless rendered
through some agency other than the
present officers OF the league.
WILL NOT DE ALLOWED
on ANY SHIP on STATION
Secretary DanIels's notice, addressed
to the public. follows:
statement OF the Navy, League. reject
ing upon the honesty OF the naval ud-
ministration and the integrity Of Off
GERS OF the navy. responsibility for
which has been assumeSs ~f'c 'cisls
Of the league. notice Is here's, e
to the public that the Navy Depart
ment has directed that no officer. agent
or representative OF the Navy League
will be admitted to any naval station.
naval reservation or ship in tho navy.
Persons who contribute to tho Navy
League In the future will do so with
the understanding that tho Navy De-
partment will not permit the accept
ance Of anything whatever from that
organization as at present officered and
managed"
When the league published It's state
ment saying 1t had rcliabie informa-
tion that the Mare Island explosion
was the result of a conspiracy. and
that the navy's inquiry was blocked
by labor interests. Secretary Daniels
depounced It as false and libelous. and
wrote Robert ". Thompson. president
OF the organization. that the best SER
vice he and his fellow officers could
perform would b, to resign. Dir.
Thompson replied with an offer to re-
sign IL the secretary also would get
out 4.
COMPOSED OF MANY FORMER
or RETIRED NAVY OFFICERS
The Navy League is Civilian or
ganization formed some twelve years
ago to work for enlargement and inn
provement OF the navy. Its member
ship includes many former or retired
n, y.I1 nR N{pa nt,f Of O. 4ho
members. Mr.. Daniels said to-day. are
patriotic citizens doing good work.
Investigation OF the Mare Island
tragedy still is going on. and np re-
port has been made. The secretary, I'm
his statement. said IL had been current
rumor that the Magazine was set off
by time fuse. but that. according TO
custom. no publicity had been given
tho fact pending report from the
naval board. He said the hoard had
been given all necessary funds. and
had not been hampered by supriemcn-
tary Instructions from tho department,
ANOTHER STATEMENT
ATTACKING DANIELS
Tonight the league headquarters
Issued another statement attacking
Secretary Daniels. charging him with
throttline freedom OF speech ofnaval
officers and declaring that he sup
pressed complaint from Yice-Admiral
Sims that American naval forces lii
European waters were not informed OF
the departure OF the transports bear
ing the hrst expedition to France until
the ships had been at sea four days.
Eight naval ofiicsrs read Admiral
sirns's protest. the statement said. aud
SEonflaIsd on SSo1nd Ps9s.5 q,