The Washington herald., 1920-03-25
AVERSDANIELS
LACKED PLAN
Capt. Laning Accuses Sec.
retary of Refusing to
Adopt Definite System.
MONEY POLICY NEEDED
Officers Handicapped by In
attention, Sims Witness
Declares.

Testimony placing the blame Tor
the delay for the adoption OF a
permanent plan of operation In the
war by the Navy Department on
Secretary Daniels was presented
20 the subcommittee Of the Senate
Naval Affairs Committee yesterday
by Capt Harris Laning. who dur
ing the war was In charge of the
onicer personnel in the Bureau OF
Navigation and for . time attached
to the Division OF Operation.
Captain Laning read q statement
showing the diniculu which was
encountered In obtaining the ap-
yroval Of suggestions made by the
various oniosrs from the Secretary
sf the Navy, and said Il was al
ways estimated there must be .
eertain amount Of delay before
anything could be accomplished.
Although Capt Laning appeared
% support Rear Admiral Sims
stand that delay caused the pro-
longation Of the war, q letter in
gtroduced following his testimony
by Senator Park Trammell, of
E1oridA written to Admiral Sims
BY Captain Laning. showed they
disagreed rather violently in Aug
s-ust. 1913 on the question Of send
ing men abroad.
Department slow to Prepare.
Capt. Laning dwelt on the oppo-
sition manifested by the department
prior to and on the eve of war to
any increase in naval complement.
The fight which was waged within
the department to obtain the adop-
tion of a definite policy for the ex-
penditure of the money was de-
tailed by Capt. Laning. He recited
numerous efforts made to have
n9)a"icls adopt a comprehensive plan.
A tentative draft was eventually
worked out which received the ap-
proval of Admiral Benson. but that
they had been unable to get de-
partmental approval to go ahead
with it,
This brought out a confusing
state of affairs in the expenditure
of navy money. the witness said.
Definite Plan Was Needed.
Not having a definite general
plan to work on, the operating part
of the navy was in quite as much
S-of . Quandary as the material part,
~Czpt Laning continued. Instead OF
nconcentrating on a broad and clear
2fy defined plan, the navy began wal
with only Q series of efforts exerted
In several directions. Whenever q
rpian or a policy was presented tc
the Secretary he almost invariably
delayed action on It The persona
fnferest taken by him in all matter.
,Sconnecfed with the department alb.
SaDrbed 50 much of his time that ht
.&never had much left to give to US
kcn the more important affairs
STherefore, when we would present
Hsomething important, even though
EH might be urgent, we could secure
Lenfy q few minutes to discuss it. We
would generally be directed to leave
,sthe paper with him for considera-
ztion.
Papers Were Buried.
IT Il remarkable but true that
papers left for consideration were
sfor the most part not heard of again
siIntfl hunted out We always con.
stfdered IL easier to get up a sound
gplsn or policy than to get authority
Ito carry It out
This condition finally became sc
had that officers used every means
ipossfble to put their plans and pol
~icies through without obtaining the
REQUIRED authority"
Ths dfmculty in getting any &C.
-fjon on the destroyer program was
as great as any, Capt. Laning said
The Sfms-F1etcher controversy
win open today when the Court OF
Inquiry meets at the Navy Depart
ment to hear testimony.
Rabne Ledger serviee)