The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-06-07
SEN TIE IN LIVELY
D!E:BATE0N U-BOAT
Attack on Navy Department
Started Discussion.
NELSON SEES PARTY SLAP
Lewis Says False Charges Concerning
Conditions Here Lured the Germans
Over.

Over
Washington. June T.-AttackS on
the navy department for permitting
submarines 10 sink American SHIPS OF
the Atlantic coast precipi,atrd Il sharp
debate i'll the senate.
Charges that senators invited the
attacks by making inaccurate state
ments as to conditions in the United
States were made by Senator Lewis,
Democrat, Illinois, in reply to news
paper editorial read by Senator Bran
degee, Republican, Connecticut. This
attacked the navy department..
The U-bOat raids were not attempt
ed, Senator Lewis said, until Germany
ton that the American government
was "honeycombed With fraud. and
reeking with corruption: the United
States had no army or navy. and we
had fallen down in every undertaking.
These charges" he said, induced
Germany to believe we could not de-
fend our own country. Germany was
invited by the unjust assaults by those
who would asperSe or benefit pOliti-
cally."
Senator Nelson, Republican, Mime
sofa, sharply interjected:
Does the senator think he can stop
the submarines by making an assault
on the Republican party?"
Senator Lewis replied he had no.
mentioned the Republican party and
to say he made a charge against that
organization would be untruthful. He
added many charges of unprepared-
ness had come from individuals in pub
lie and official life as well as in pri-
vate life.
With apparent feeling. Senator
Lodge. Republican, ssachusetts,
said:
Nothing has so stimulated and in
vited Germany as the loose brags and
boasts about the number of troops we
are transporting 10 France. Germany
was not invited here by attacks upon
the navy and the navy department
has taken every precaution. No doubt
in some newspaper offices there are
men who might have done better.
'The navy and the department have
necessarily anticipated submarine
attack from the beginning of the war
They have had it constantly in mind
They have tried to take every precau-
ton TO meet it. 1 think they have"
The navy's activities cannot be made
public Senator Lodge said, pointing
out no one can tell where a submarine
will strike
had any authentic news indicating the
presence of submarines" he added.
''they acted. They have the means to
do it."
Referring to the fight of the British
navy for four years against the sub
marines, Senator Lodge said with
American assistance larger control"
Of the submarine menace has been es-
ahliShed on what might he termed the
naval front"
THAT control is succeeding" he
said. more than any of us dared to
'ope. 1t is done by multiplication of
hips and of methods.
That the defense will be effective
have no question"
Possibility of submarine base iii
:" western hemisphere seemed re
:9te. he asserted, pointing out the
'fiiculty of getting a mother ship oul
Germany.
L was Improbable the Germans have
base on the United States or the
anadtan coasts. He also thought no
use could be had in the West Indies
IT IS possible" he said. "to have a
Sc on Mexican territory. but a base
re cannot be freely used. 1t would
extremely difficult to get to and
away from in more than Il
.,4fl -