New-York tribune., 1918-03-13
Daniels Departments Con-
duct of the War Is
indicated
"Has Set Example
Of Efficiency"
Still Handicapped by Lack
Of Scout and Battle
Cruisers

WASHINGTON, March 12.-The Navy
Departments conduct of the war was
vindicated in report made public to-
day by the House committee that has
been investigating the subject.
The report, submitted by the sub
committee headed by Representative
Oliver, of Alabama, to the full Naval
Affairs Committee, states these conclu-
sions:
Call appropriations for the navy have
been expended or obligated with judg-
ment, caution and economy, consider
ing that haste was necessary to bring
results and abnormal conditions cb-
tanned in reference to all problems of
production or operations.
"The navy, with limited personnel
and material, was suddenly called to
face many difficult and untried prob
lens in sea warfare. and has met the
situation with rare skill, ingenuity and
dispatch and high degree of success.
"The efficiency Of the navy's pre-war
organization, the readiness and fitness
of its men and ships for the difficult
| dHN dAuOOuS CdShO IIupOSCU OJ wa
were early put to the acid test and,
thus far, in no way have they been
found wanting We feel that the past
twelve months present for the navy
remarkable record of achievement,
of steadily increasing power in both
personnel and material, of rapidly ex-
panding resources and Of well-matured
plans for the future, whether the war
be of long or short duration"
Need More Cruisers
ut is matter of regret" the report
added, "that the great demand upon the
ship construction capacity of the coun-
try, coupled with the urgent demand
for a large increase in the destroyer
force, has made necessary tempo
rary abandonment in part of the navy
shipbuilding programme. The navy
greatly needs both scout and battle
nought feet loses large part of its
fighting potentiality. We approve the
principle and earnestly favor a re-
sumption of the building programme as
soon as conditions permit, and cannot
tco strongly emphasize the Importance
of providing both scout and battle
cruisers"
"Our committee" the report said.
undertook this investigation expect
ing to find that no matter how we'll
in the .main the navy had made it's
expansion into war force we would
find some matters subject to adverse
criticism. We brought with US the
desire to cooperate with the navy to
one end-success. An examination of
sion we have had to find fault. Some
mistakes have, of course, been made,
yet the navy has shown its strength
by the manner of its correction"
The report pays a tribute to the
medical facilities quickly provided for
the war, and says that "the first battle
of the war, that against disease. was
fought and won by the medical depart
ment of the navy, under Rear Admiral
William Braisted."
The committee was given complete
information regarding the encounters
of American <,sses with submarines
"The record of attacks" says the
report, "shows a comparatively small
percentage of successful attacks and
that the chances of escape when a
submarine is sighted before she has
due to the efficiency Of the navy per-
sonnel. The unseen torpedo is respon-
sible for 8 per cent of the sinkings"
The report points out that the navy
not only has supplied itself with guns
and ammunition, but has been able to
help supply the governments of Eng
land, France and Italy.
Calls Well With the Fleet"
Except the general statement that
Vice Admiral Sims has had everything
called for as PROMPTLY as it could be
delivered, the committee says it has
nothing to report about the condi-
tion of the American overseas feet.
"Its splendid work under the able di-
rection of Admiral Sims" it says, "will
be told in detail at some later time.
eve have learned by personal OBJ
servation as we'll as by inquiry some
thing of the Atlantic fleet, and we feel
we can say that the condition of ships
and personnel, all things considered,
is more than satisfactory. That this
condition exists is due to Admiral
Mayo, its commander in chief. and
every officer and man under him. When
war came, on April 7, Admiral Mayo is