The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-31
Radical Differences Seen in
Stand on Future Plans.
Daniels and Other Officers Hold
Widely Divergent Views.
WANTSOFFICERS TRANSFERRED
Wants No Additional Men for
Navy at Present.
While Officers Have Asked for
an Increase in Force.

Washington, Dec. 31.-Radical diff
ferences between Secretary of the
Navy Daniels and naval officers on
naval organization developed out of
Daniels appearance before the house
naval committee today.
Daniels made suggestions on trans
fer of reserve officers to the perma-
nent navy on the authorizations of
permanent naval strength and on the
size of ship compliments which varied
greatly from those previously made
by officers
The committee. with exception of
Representative Britten. Illinois, indi-
Gated agreement with Daniels.
Transfer 1000 Officers.
Daniels read to the committee a
proposed bill to transfer one thousand
reserve officers to the permanent
force as follows 900 lieutenants, 800
iieutc nants Junior grade, and 400 en-
signs.
TO get this transfer. the reserve Of
ficers will have to pass strict eX-
animation, Daniels said, and would be
sent to Annapolis for for six months
following their transfer.
Daniels proposal differed from that
of officers who asked unlimited trans
fers. He also differed with the Of
ficors on the permanent enlisted
strength. which he said should not be
incree sed. Officers recommended an
increase from about $4,000, present
strength. to 217,O0o. Daniels PLAN
viii necessitate employment of sixty
thousand reserves up to June 80, 1919.
II don't believe it wise now to fix
Il permanent strength for the navy
1iore than fixed in the last BILL" Dan
lie said.
Daniels introduced a table showing
the p:.~ent permanent naval strength
il 1866 and the temporary
EtrenSth. includ .ng reservists. aviators,
and trade students, is 244,203.
On Size of Ships.
Daniels then began discussion
touching the size of ships compile
1lcnts. pointing out that the number
o. men now carried on ships has been
rapidly increasl ng. The Pennsylvania.
baiit to carry 900 men. carrier LAO
AMI the Arizona. 1,540. Daniels said.
The secretary then read a report by
Admiral Rodman severely scoring the
e owding OF men IN sleeping quarters
aho,rd ship. charging they were
packed in like sardines." while Of
fees. workshops, and other things
were allowed to encroach on space de-
s.Ened for sleeping quarters.
'Aft.r careful Investigation, 1 am
oe the opinion battlesh.ps can be oper-
a.ed with smaller compliments" the
report read.
Daniels read table showing Bri-
tain carried in 1914. fifty-five men per
~
1000 tons
Took Issue Again.
Here again. Daniels took issue with
o...cera, who have told the committee
tE.-t present war compliments ought
10. to be reduced. Daniels recon-
I4@l-cl Il study and investigation by
= LoI- of admirals of the whole per-
Ioan-l and complement questions.
Representative Britten, Illinois,
asked il British compliments were not
increased after the battle of Jutland
Daniels read figures showing this was
not the case. stating that the Queen
Elizabeth, for instance, carried only
1.C15 officers and men at the present
tins.
al hirty battleships will probably be
Kept in full commission. Daniels said.
Fourteen battleships and ten cruisers
have been converted into transports
and will soon be able to bring home
twenty thousand men a month, he told
the committee. The crews of these
have been reduced by half. Many
officers also object to this, Daniels
said.
lost of the $50 destroyers now COM
pl, ed and being built probably will be
l.cpt in full commission. Daniels said.
Daniels suggested returning to the
old system of communication for officers,
stating it would save $11.00O.OOO.
Another proposal which Daniels said
was most important" provided for
keeping the peace pay of the navy at
Ike present war rates enacted in May.
1917. The increases ranged from Sc
10 SIS per month.
without this, the navy will have
difficulty getting 100000 men, Dan
iels said. declaring that the navy
would suffer in competition with the
shipping board and outside attractions.
Every Man Trained.
This is step toward the policy I
have in view" Daniels continued.
Every man in the navy should be a
trained man and get pay for it."
Under the old system navy men
were among the worst paid in the
world, Daniels said. The committee
indicated they favored the increase.
Daniels next proposed an amend
ment to put navy rankings strictly on
a merit basis.