New-York tribune., 1919-03-08
Daniels and
Baker to Join
Wilson Abroad
President and Heads of Both
Military Bodies Will BE
Away at ihc Same Time

WASHINGTON, March 7. Secretary
Daniels and party of American naval
experts will leave for Europe next
week to discuss with Allied naval off
cials the best type of capital warships
to be built in the future, based on the
lessons gained in the great war. Be-
cause of conflicting opinions on this
subject among American officers, the
Secretary has been asked to submit
definite recommendation to the next
Congress in December
1t also was learned to-day that Sec
retary Baker would sail for Europe
about April 1 to close up the business
operations of the American Expedi-
tionary Forces. He will be absent
about six weeks and probably will ar
rive overseas before Secretary Daniels
returns home. Thus President Wilson
and the heads Of both the army and
navy probably will be away from the
country at the same time.a situation
which many officials said to-day, was
without precedent.
Naval Men Go on Leviathan
The Naval Secretary will be accom-
panied by Rear Admirals Taylor, chief
of the Bureau of Construction and Re-
pair; Griffin, chief of the Bureau of
Steam Engineering; Earle, chief of the
bureau OF Ordnance, and Commander
Hoote, his personal aid The party will
be joined overseas by Admiral Benson,
n hn n
is attached to the American peace dele
cation, and Vce-Admiral Sims, com
mandlng all American naval forces in
European waters.
Mr.. Daniels and his party will sail
from New York on the transport
Leviathan week from 10 morrow and
will go first to Paris 70 confer with
the French admiralty. Later they
viii visit London and Rome and prob
ably Will be away q month or more.
Plans for the return trip have not
yet been made.
While all deductions to be drawn
from war experiences viii be dis
cussed in detail the American mission
will address itself particularly to the
question of future types of capital
ships
Opinion on Construction Divided
1t has been the Judgment of the
navy general board, charged with fix
| ing the military characteristics of the
new ships, that the United States
should continue to build dreadnoughts
Of constantly increasing power and
I battle cruisers
Admiral Mayo, now commander of
the Atlantic fleet, Vice Admiral Sims
officers who have held the highest
/ posts of the American service in the
war zone, believe. however, that a
composite ship, combining the speed
I of a battle-cruiser with the pun power
and armor of battleship, should be
/ substituted. These officers have been
particularly impressed by British ex-
| periments toward composite craft
with the construction of the hood. one
OF the so-called British "hush" ships
Secretary Daniels has not taken
sides in the dispute, nor have his three
chief technical advisers, the men who
VIII design and construct whatever
ships may be decided upon.
Stayed Here During War
Secretary Daniels was invited by
the British Admiralty to visit Europe
during the war. But he was unable to
accept that invitation
However, Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt, who will be Acting Secretary
while Mr.. Daniels is overscas, twice
visited the war zone
Secretary Baker made two visits to
France during the war and had plan
ned third one Immediately after the
slgnlng Of the armistice so as to give
his personal attention to the settle
nent Of many big problems abroad
The decision of President Wilson to
attend the peace conference, however,
( recessitated Ii delay and Edward r.
Stettinius, who was then in France as
the personal representative Of the Sec
retary Of War, was intrusted with the
negotiations: But there remain many
questions, the Secretary feels, which
demand his personal attention.
The War Secretary hopes to be able
10 complete nil the york and get back
70 Washington BY the middle Of May.
While he is overseas Benedict Crowcll,
first assistant TO MIR. Baker, will act
az Secretary OF War.