New-York tribune., 1920-03-27
Charge Daniels
Blocked Larger
Navy Personnel
Admiral Plunkett and Cap
tain Taussig Tell of I'm.
availing Efforts for u. S.
Preparedness for War
Secretary Deaf to Pleas
Superior German Cunnery
Turned British on Heads
at Jutland, Witness Says

WASHINGTON, March 2s. Two
naval officers, Rear Admiral c. p.
Plunkctt and Captain J. X. Taussig,
testified to-day before the Senate
Investigating Committee that for
two years prior to the entrance
of the United States into the war Sec
retary Daniels steadfastly refused to
approve an increase in personnel, and
the Navy Department generally at
tempted to suppress reports Of
man power shortage. During the war
both Admiral Plunkett and Captain
Taussig served with the Atlantic fleet
destroyer force, the former as COM
mander.
In the course Of his statement, Ad-
miral Plunkett asserted that the Ger
mans, by their superior gunnery,
the battle of Jutland. He was testi-
flying as to the need for keeping the
navy personnel at full strength so men
might be adequately trained. He did
not so into details as to the Jutland
battle and was asked no questions re-
gafding it by the committee
The admiral, who commanded the
great naval battery of 14-inch guns on
the western front, was the fourth wit
ness in the investigation at Rear Ad-
mr&l Simss charges that the Navy
Department failed to cooperate fully
with the Allies early in the war, and
all of his testimony was devoted to
the matter OF personnel.
Large Navy Was Unprepared
Admiral plunkett declared he "argued
with Secretary Daniels on the person
mel question for two years without
making. an Impression" Captain Taus-
sig said the Navy Departments attitude
regarding personnel was zone of un-
preparedness rather than prepared
ness" The recommendation of Ad-
miral Dewey as head of the general
board for large increase in enlisted
strength was turned down, said Captain
Taussig.
Asked regarding the condition of the
fleet in April, 1917, Admiral Plunkett
said the ships in commission were in
as good condition as could be expect
ed,' bat shortage of men and constant
changes IN gun crews had greatly in
tatfered with gunnery efficiency and
haSi prev' nted sending to sea many
ships which should have been in full
conmlss ion.
The United States. and not Ger
NOW if this country had faced Germany
ON the sea IN 1914, Admiral Plunkett
declared
The witness said Admiral W. S. Ben
son, then chief of naval operations dur
ing the war, had told him to take up
directly with the Secretary matters re-
iating to personnel.
Quotes Adr.iral Benson
admiral Benson said he had ex-
h;susted all the talk in his SYSTEM" as
seTled the officer, "and told me ii l
thought / could do anything to go
ahead and Try"
Captain Taussig, who was on duty
at the Navy Department prior to the
war and later served on destroyers
overseas, 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
adcitional 10000 men were needed
wplie the Navy General Board in its
l9l4 report had stated that 1860 men
were necessary.
The General Board, the commando
'n1rhief OF the Atlantic fleet and many
officers of high rank drought the de-
p'ei"Dio and unsatisfactory condition
osstfe personnel to the departments
"'tention with "emphatic and repeated
I Somnl nlenGatlons that immediate steps
bcs@taken to remedy the situation, Cap
ra,n Taussig testified.
Che committee will not meet to-
morrow, but Monday it will hear Rear
4 dralral II. T. Mayo, who commanded
the United States feet during the war,
and Rear Admiral A. w. Grant, former
corsmander OF battleship unit of the
Atlantic fleet.