Evening star., 1920-03-26
NAVY SHORT Of MEN
WHEN WAR OPENED
Capt. Taussig, at Hearing,
Says Department Kept Re-
ports From the Public.

Charges that the Navy Department
took steps to prevent reports reach
ing the public regarding a shortage
of personnel in the Navy before the
United States entered the war were
made before the Senate naval investi-
eating committee today by Capt. Jo-
seph X. Taussig Of the Naval War
College at Newport. R. I.
Capt. Taussig. who was on duty at
the Navy Department prior to the war
and later served on destroyers over
seas, said that Secretary Daniels. In
his annual report in 1914 stated that
the numerical strength OF the Navy
was adequate, and in 1915 said that
only an additional 10000 men were
needed white the Navy general board
IN its 1911 report had stated that
1S,68e men were necessary.
hoard Cites "DeplOrable" Condition.
:. The general board, the commander
in -chief OF the Atlantic feet and many
officers Of high tanK brought the de-
plorable and unsatisfactory condition
Of the personnel" to the departments
attention. with emphatic and repeat
ed recomme ndations that immediate
steps be taken to remedy the situa-
ton. Capt. Taussig testified,
The witness told the committee that
the departments policy with regard to
personnel was "one of unpreparedness
rather than preparedness" even when
war with Germany Apparently was
inevitable"
There was no trained personnel for
a large number of ships when the
United states entered the war, the
witness said.
AS result of this department
policy Of unpreparedness," he added.
the larger part of the ships oper
ated throughout the war with inade-
quately trained personnel. and in con-
sequence they were not as efficient as
they should have been"
capt. Taussig was cross-examined
nrleny by Senator Trammell. demo-
crat. Florida, and was followed on the
stand by Rear Admiral Plunkett. now
commander OF the destroyers Of the
Atlantic fleet. Prior to the war he
was on duty as gunnery officer of the
atlantic Meet and in the department
During the war he commanded the
American fourteen-inch naval railwav
batteries in France ~
Rear Admiral Plunkett testified re-
gardfng personnel shortage. He said
that prior to the United States entry
into the war he told Secretary Daniels
that there can be no gunnery with
out people and there are no people"
L argued with Mr.. Daniels for two
sSoIS WiIHout making an impression
on him." declared the witness.
In all my dealings with Mr.. Dan
iels 1 never have been treated more
courteously." the witness said, but
he Is the only man l ever left with
out making some impression"
The chief of naval operations. Ad-.
miral w. s. Benson, told him to take
personnel matters up directly with
the Secretary. Rear Admiral Plurkett
said.
Admiral Benson said he had ex.
hausted all the talk in his system"
asserted the officer, "and told me- IL
1 thought I could do anything TO 20
ahead and try
Admiral PIunkett Testine.x
The Germans. by their superior gum
merry. turned the British on their
heads" at the battle of Jutland, Ad-
miral Plunkett declared He did not
go into details as to the Jutlapd
battle and was asked no questions
regarding it by the committee.
He told the committee that the
Navy was without sufficient men
when the war began
IL we had been up against Ger
many at the outbreak of the war"
ne SAID. we would have been paving
indemnity today. and al because we
did not have the trained men,"
we didn't have the men because
Mr.. Daniels wouldn't let us have them
and wouldn't let US do anything to
get them"