Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-08
BOTH BAKER AND
DANIELS WILL CO
To EUROPE SOON
Secretary of Navy viii Take.
Counsel Abroad as to Best
Type Of Ship to Be Built for
j. S, Navy,

'er MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wleEl
Washington, March 7.-Secretary
Daniels and party of American
naval experts will leave for Europe
next week to discuss with allied naval
officials the best type of capital war
ships to be built in the future, based
on the lessons gained in the war. Be-
cause of conflicting opinions among
American officers, the secretary has
been asked to submit a definite rec
ommendation to the next congress.
1t was learned that Secretary
Baker would sail for Europe about
April to close up the business OPP
erations of the American expedition
airy forces. He VIII be absent about
six weeks. 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 today was
without precedent.
VIII Have Big Staff.
The naval secretary will be accom-
panied by Rear Admirals Taylor,
chief of the bureau of construction
and repair; Griffin, chief of the bu-
reau of steam engineering, Earle,
chief of the bureau Of ordnance, and
Commander Foote, his personal aide.
The party will be joined overseas by
Admiral Benson. chief of the bureau
of operations, who is attached to the
American peace delegation, and Vice
Admiral Sims, commanding all Amer
lean naval forces in European waters.
Mr.. Daniels and his party will sail
from New York on the Beviathan a
week from tomorrow and will go first
to Paris to confer with the French
admiralty. Later they will visit Lon
don and Rome. Plans for the return
trip have not yet been made.
The American mission will address
itself particularly TO the question of
future types of capital ships. 1t has
been the judgment of the navy gem
eral board that the United States
should continue to build dreadnaughts
of constantly increasing power and
battle cruisers.
Differ as to Ships.
Admiral Mayo. now commander of
the Atlantic fleet; Vice Admiral Sims
and Rear Admiral Benson, the three
officers who have held the highest
posts of the American service in the
war zone, believe. however that a
composite ship. combining the speed
of battle cruiser with the gun power
and armor of n battleShlp, should be
substitufyd These officers have been
particularly impressed by British ex-
perments toward composite craft
with the construction Of the Hood,
one of the so-called British hush
ships.
Secretary Daniels was invited by
the British admiralty to visit Europe
during the war but he was unable
to accept the invitation. Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt, who will be act
ing secretary while Mr.. Daniels is
overseas, twice visited the war zone.
Secretary Baker made two visits to
France during the war and had
planned third one Immediately after
the signing of the armistice.
The decision of President Wilson to
attend the peace conference. how
ever, necessitated q delay.
The war secretary hopes to be able
to complete all the work that lies
before him in France in three weeks
and get back to Washington by the
middle of May. While he Is overseas
Benedict Crowell first assistant to
Mr. Baker will act as secretary of
war.