The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-25
Daniels 'tProcraStinatiou"
Handicapped Navy
Capt. Palmer Declares Bureau
Did Not Heed SeCretary's
Orders Stopping Recruiting.
THEY "NEEDED THE MEN,
Claims Secretary Doesn't Re-
member Anything About
Circumstances,

WASHINGTON, NHICH 90 lIOCIdA-
tination on the part of Secretary
Daniels" was responsible for a Sc
rious shortage of personnel. which
proved "the initial handicap of the
navy In the war" Capt. Leigh G.
Palmer wartime chief OF the bureau
of navigation, testified today before
the senate committee investigating
the navy's conduct OF the war.
Tho secretary. Capt. Palmer de-
clared, was unable to appreciate the
necessity for obtaining and training
men IN advance of an actual declara-
ton of war.
even after war was declared" the
witness said, ''he used to say. We
have too many reserves now.'"
Just before the United States
Joined the allies, when the bureau
of navigation was striving to recruit
naval reserves, the witness contin-
ued, Secretary Daniels ordered en-
rollment In the reserve stopped.
Did you stop" asked Chairman
Hale.
NO. We needed the men and
went right ahead"
IL talked to Mr. Daniels the other
day and he doesn't remember any
thing about that" said the witness,
but he did order me to stop enroll
ment then and several other times"
Capt. Palmer told the committee
that when war was declared the
navy was short $1,000 regular and
reserve enlisted men and about $500
officers from its peacetime requires
ments and that at least 10000 addi-
tional enlisted men and many more
officers were needed for destroyers
a ms ~ 80
witness said congress was not to
blame, as II gave everything the de-
partment asked for.
Replying to q question by Chair
man Hale. Capt. Palmer declared
that Secretary Daniels did all he
could TO help get men in the crit
zeal days Of the spring Of l9i7."
The secretary" he said. backed
up all efforts 90 get enlisted men.
lie was anxious 10 get them"
Immediately prior 10 the war the
navy was lacking $1,000 enlisted men
to man its ships, Capt. Palmer said.
we spoeded up work TO obtain
sufficient personnel. We were re-
tnrded In n measure by failure ia
obtain permission 90 call reserve Of.
ilcors," Capt. Palmer Continued.
when the war started, 10000 adai-
Shortage in 1917.
Tho shortage OF men was given
specifically as OF Feb. 20, 1917,
prior to the war we had n hard
time getting men for our regular
program and could not develop
larger force with possible conflict In
sight" Capt. Palmer said.
What plans did you make for the
war and were you in any way him
dcred in your efforts TO provide per-
sonnet by the navy department ?"
Senator Hale. chairman OF the COM
mlttcc. asked
There wns some difficulty In orr
ganizing schools to teach new arts
OF warfare" said Capt. Palmer.
"The secretary ordered ENROLL
ment stopped several times before
and during the war;" said Capt. PAT
mor.
"Did you stop enrollments?" Sem
ator Hale asked.
mo. | kept right on enrolling"
said Capt Palmer. IT was possible
by obtaining the men to properly
carry on the war. After the men
were enrolled the secretary seemed
pleased.
'"rho secretary has asked mo 20
produce tho written orders TO stop
recruiting. They might be there. but
| do not think so. The orders were
verbal"
1T was not the fault OF the secre-
tary that Admiral Sims did not get
enlisted men," said Capt. Palmer.
Enlisted men could not be trained
IN time 10 20 abroad at once. When
they got over there they did not have
places 10 house the number we sent.
Secretary Daniels wished to pre-
vent cnlistmcnts In Europe. | sent
blanks to Sims, at any rate Promo
tions In the service. or lack of pro-
motions, can be charged 20 me-" said
Cant It1trupr