The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-03-26

mans, by their superior gunnery,
turned the British on their heads
at the battle Of Jutland, Rear Ad-
/ miral Plunkett declared today before
the senate committee investigating
the navy's conduct of the war.
Charges that the navy department
took steps 10 prevent reports reach
ing the public regarding u shortage
of personnel in the navy before the
United States entered the war. were
made before the senate naval invcs-
tlgGting committee today by Captain
Joseph X. Taussig. Of the naval train.
ing station at Newport. r. !.
Captain Tuusslg, who was on duty
at the navy department prior to the
war and later served on dcstroycrs
overseas, said that Secretary Daniels
in his annual report in 1911, stated
that the numerical strength Of the
navy was adequate and in 1915 said
that only an additional 10000 men
were needed. while the navy general
boara IN It's 1914 report had stated
. lNN lFtV'u Il'I NiIt Il'N'NN'ilN. Nv
general board, the commandor.in chief
Of th Atantic fleet ana many Off.
Gers of high rank brought tho de-
plorable and unsatisfactory condition
of tho personnel" to the department S
attention with "cmphatlc and re.
poated" recommendations that immc.
date steps be taken TO remedy the
situation Captain Taussic testified,
The witness told the committee that
the departments policy with regard
to personnel was one OF unrrcpared
ucss rather than preparedness, even
wh'n war with Germany apparently
was inevitable"
There was no trained personnel
for a large number Of shiDs when the
United States entered the war, Cap
tain Taussig said.
AS a result Of this department
policy Of unprepnrcdncss, ne added
che larger part Of the ships opcr
ated throughout the war with made
quatcly trained personnel and in con
sequence they were not as evident
as they have been"
, Captain Taussig was followed b!
, Rear Admiral Flunkett, commander
Of the dcstroycrs Of the Atlantic fleet
who testified that prior to the Untcl
States entry into the war hc tolC
Secretary Daniels that there can bI
no gunncry without people and Their
are no people
Il argued with Mr.. Daniels fo
two years without making an impress
sion on him." declared the witness
i Admiral Plunk1tt said Admiral w
l. s. Benson, chief OF naval operation
i during the war had told him to taxi
k Up directly with the secretary mat
@ ters relating to personnel
.. admiral Benson said he had cN
h1ustcd all the talk in his system
l, asserted the officer, "and told me /
r ! could do anything to 90 ahead an,
l. try
o Admiral Plunkett was testifylng a
h 20 the need for keeping the nav
e personnel at full strength so me-
5. might he adequately trained lie di
4 not go into details as to the Julian
Il battle and was asked no question
d regarding 1t by the committee.
3 The admiral who commanded th
Y. great naval battery Of II inch gun
c on the western front was the fourt
T. witness in the investigation Of Rca
Admiral Sims charges that the nav
je department failed to cooperate full
n, with the allies carly in the war an
IS all Of his testimony was devoted I
r the matter Of personnel
n He told the committee that til
l- navy was without sufficient me
c when the wAr began.
ID III we had been up against Gcl
ID many NJ the very outbreak Of tn
war; he said, we would have be-
paying indemnity today. and all bi
cause we did not have the traino
mon"
l. I'VE didn't have tho men bccaua
Mr.. Daniels wouldn't let us hay
4. them and wouldn't Let us do anythin
Il &C. get them"