Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-17
DANIELS ATTACKS
PLAN FOR GENERAL
THE NAVY
Advocates Aim to Make
Rubber Stamp" of Secre-
tary, He Tells Senators.

Secretary Daniels today let go a
verbal broadside against the advo-
Gates of a general staff for the Navy.
declaring that they sought to "Prus-
sianize" the Navy Department and
make the civilian Secretary / rubber
stamp" He told the Senate commit
tee investigating the Nays conduct
of the war that "oAe of Rear Admiral
Sims chief objects in writing his let
ter of January and bringing about
this investigation was to curtai1 the
power of tire Secretary ami remove
the Navy, SO far as possible. from
civilian control"
Running like q thread through
most of the evidence that has been
given before the committee has been
advocacy of the general staff for the
conduct of the. American Navy and
elimination of civilian control" said
have frankly avowed their advocacy
of Frustrating the Navy.
Tells Of Warning.
About the only advice former Sec
rotary George voA L. Meyer gave him
when he succeeded him. Mr.. Daniels
there were officers in the Navy who
wished less power for the civilian
Secretary and more for themselves.
Power lies here" Mr.. Daniels said
Meyer told him. as he pointed to the
Secretary's desk. land it should re-
main here"
He did not fully understand what
his predecessor meant until a few
months later. when Admiral Fiske
and other, disciples of the Won Tirpitz
system OF naval control sought to or
eanize the American Navy on the
said.
Declares Sims Hostile.
Rear Admiral Sims original charges
against the Navy Department showed
hostility toward certain officers and a
desire to damage the ranking officers
who directed naval operations during
the WAR. the naval Secretary declared.
adding that the evidence has shown
desire to discredit the Secretary Of
the Navy because he was not rub
Der stamp Secretary"
II Congress wishes to depart from
the traditional American policy" of
civilian control of the Navy it should
do so directly and clearly and with
out pretense." said MIR. Daniels, by
making an admiral Secretary of the
Navy and a member or the President g
cabinet. The most ardent advocates
of the general staff system had not
advocated going SO far. however. be-
cause they wished to keep rubber
stamp" civilian as a fgurehead in the
Secretary's Office. he declared.
The witness quoted from reports
and writings OF other, naval Secre-
taries to show. he said. that they. too.
struggled again substitution OF the
general stan system.
III Congress believes that civilian
control is great evil said Mr.. Dan
iels. III it believes that the policy
which has prevailed since the founda-
ton of our government should be re-
yersed and that the Navy should be
removed from civilian control, let 1t
follow Sims lead. create general
stan on the German model and name
some Won Tirpitz to rule the Navy.
Let US have no camoufiage about 1t.
Abolish the position of Secretary Of
the Navy or provide that some adj
miral shall fill that post. with a sea.
in the Presidents cabinet. That would
be the frank and open way to do 1t
rather than to put some Sims in con-
troll of the Navy. with nominal Sec
rotary as his clerk. messenger boy
and rubber stamp.
IF this committee desires to raise
that issue. ] am perfectly willing to
go to Congress and the country with
it, and let the American people and
their chosen representatives make the
decision"