Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-26
DANIELS wSAYsANCIENT
HISTORY IsBEING DUG UP
Accuses Senate Investigating Com
mittce With Airing Grievances
OF Disgruntcd Naval Officers.
ADMIRAL FIsKE CONTROVERSY
Secretary Characterized Rcar-Ad-
miral as Monumental Egotist"
Who Was Actuatcd by Desire to
"I'ruSsianizc" the u. s.. Navy.
inv A.socia,cd prcssl

WASHINGTON. May 25.-Secretary
Daniels accused tho Senate Naval In
restigating Committee today with
digging IN ancient history" and
airing the grievances and grudges
of d%isgruntlcd naval officers The
accusations came during a long Sc
rics of questions from Chairman Hale
regarding disappearance in 1914 from
the files OF the Navy Department OF a
letter from Rcar-Admiral bradley
Fiskc on naval preparedness.
Mr.. Daniels told the committee IA
he had no objection to prolonging the
hearings by going back as far as
1914. but said he did not see how
the Uatters referred TO had any
bearing on the question OF The naval
conduct OF the war. Chairman Hale
replied he was seeking to show that
Secretary Daniels was warned by his
thief technical advisers hat the
American navy was not prepared for
war previous TO the entry Of the
United States into the war.
Recalls Knight Letter in 1911.
The chairman virtually charged
MIR. Daniels n; another point with
having withheld from the Senate a
letter from Rcar-Admiral Austin NJ.
knight, written in August. 1914. adj
wishing the immediate withdrawal of
American battleshlps from Mexican
waters and the preparation of the
navy for possible eventualities re-
sulting from the world war. then just
beginning. To support his conten-
tion senator Hale read 4 Senate reso-
lution asking for communications
from the navy general board regard
ing war preparation of the navy and
n reply from Mr.. Daniels. declaring
he had no communication bearing on
the subject. Admiral knights letter.
the chairman added, was in Mr.. Dan
iels possession at the time and bore
vitality on the subject of prepared
ness.
Secretary Daniels, in reply. said he
had not considered Admiral knights
letter as an official communication
sidered that it related to prcpara-
tion or the navy. hut rather was an
elaboration of Rcar-Admiral Fiske's
llSlSl'llCc lHat luC bdllIcShipS III
southern waters he brought home at
once.
Admiral Fiskc Monumental Egosist."
Cross-eXamination OF the naval
chief conferred largely today around
the Old controversy between Mr.. DAN
icls and admiral Fiske regarding re-
..sorganiza,ion of THE Navy Depart
tncnt and placing responsibility and
authority for the direction OF the en-
tire navy In the hands of II naval Of
iicer. Characterizing Admiral Fiskc
tas a monumental egotist' who
:horcd me 10, exhaustion the secre-
-tary said the officer was actusted by
"a desire ito Prusslanize" the navy.
Chairman Hale Announced that in
ylcw of the gravity OF the charges
admiral Fieke should be given an
ohnortunity to appear later and de-
-fend himself.
Mr.. Daniels made no objection. but
said he would insist, in tina event.
chat he too be given an opportunity
10 appear when this new phase OF the
investigation had been developed.
Cross-cxam!nation of Secretary
Daniels VIII be resumcd tomorrow.