The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-18
SUCCESS OF FLIGHT
DELIGHTS DANIELS
Due Not to Navy Luck, but to
Navy Ability, Says
Secretary.
RETURNS on MT. VERNON
Says Second Dirigible Soon
Will Attempt Crossing in
C-5's Stead.

Nobody was happier over the thrilling
news from the Azores ,han Josephus
Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, who re-
turned from Europe yesterday on the
transport Mt. Vernon.
"1t has been called navy luck" he
said, but it is not luck; it is navy abil-
!ty While l was in Great Britain I let
the authorities know that we we're not
IN this transatlantic fight for competi-
tive reasons. told them for two years
we had been preparing for It. I have
thought of 1t many times and have
talked to the men who are making the
fight, urging them to be prudent and
not to take too many risks.
I'VE are able to patrol the waves to
q great extent but have not yet been
able to chart the air. though It is hoped
we shall do go soon. At first we planned
g. send one plane over. Later we in
creased the number to three SO there
would be a better chance of snuccess
TIE loss Of the C-5 will not end our
effort to cross the ocean with a dirigi-
lie. A second one is ready and Will
attempt the flight soon"
Mr.. Daniels sent this wireless message
Addressed to Commander Towers at the
Azores:
MY good wishes and confidence in
you and your associates. 1 only wish
!. were possible for me to be with you
now as It was my pleasure to take a
Fight with you in 1918"
Would Sink Foes war.hip..
When Mr.. Daniels went abroad five
weeks ago he apparently believed that
the surrendered German warships should
lie distributed among the Allies. He
now thinks they should be sunk. He
said:
Admiral Benson. our naval repre-
sentative at the Peace Conference. be-
1ieves the German fleet should be de-
E:royed He believes il would be a great
moral lesson and l believe this to be
the bulk Of navy opinion overseas
There is no reason for our taking
tae ships. We could not use them If we
lad them. Our investigation showed
that the German fleet was built for u.s.
age on the North Sea. They have more
r-nor than ours but their steaming
radius is not nearly as great. The plan
10 remodel them believe to be imprac-
this would cost far more than the ships
can possibly be worth. Thei. guns could
rot use our ammunition. We should
have TO manufacture n different sort or
change the armament of all the ships"
He added that the fate of the ships
had not been settled; the question was
s.!ll open to debate
The Secretary stoutly denied that the
American naval expansion programme
as announced was in any sense a blur.
The naval programme" he said. was
o programme to be carried out before
the League of Nations question came up.
II there is no League of Nations there is
40 doubt in my mind that any Congress
would build a larger fleet. The policy
tEreed upon will be carried out unless
tAe League OF Nations covenant gives
reason for. changes. That, however. is
q matter that cannot be settled immed-
R.ely. Even II America does trim down
SIS naval programme new ships will have
70 he built anyway of what type and In
what numbers ] am not prepared to say"
The only message Mr.. Daniels brought
back from the American troops was,
Eve want to go home" I'VE are bring
:'s them back rapidly" he said: "2se,-
ooo were returned in April. and more
tHan that will be returned in May and
June. BY July 1 We shall have only
sbout 100000 American troops in Eu-
rope. There will be facilities to return
Rl Of them as soon as the needs of the
country will permit it,
He reported that Brest "ls the best
military camp in the world" and that
Cen. Pershing is held in high regard
throughout Europe.
With Secretary Daniels were Admiral
Robert 5. Griffin. chief OF the bureau of
6team engineering; Admiral David w.
Taylor, chief of the bureau OF construc-
Son and repair: Admiral Ralph Eearle,
tL!ef OF the bureau OF ordnance. and
Ctpt. Percy w. F'oote, the Secretary's
ga. The party went 10 Washington
soon after the Mount Vernon docked.
Upon landing they were greeted by
Capt. Casey r. Morgan. representing Ad-
t!ral Gleaves, who is abroad, and
Sany other naval officers.