South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-22
Daniels Tells of Wilson as
StrategiSt in Naval War

I have been tempted most strongly
90 recall him. The presidet believed
: America could raise and train an
eXpeditionsry force big enough and
quickly enough 10 take its equal
place in the field with the veteran
armies and do It's full share to bring
victory He had faith in American
] CapaCity, and he knew that Amer
ficans would never fight 80 well un-
der alien leadership as they would
under the command OF their own
I officers.
Hoskino San, committee member
field
But this determination on the
I presidents part 20 keep the Amer
| lean forces Independent neither pre-
\ vented the use OF American troops
I ira the brigades OF British and
French armies during the days while
our strenth was assembling. nor the
strong urging Of America 10 give the
Independent armies OF the allied
and associated powers the unified
command which was essential 20
their effective cooperation and CO.
ordination.
Put Foch at Head.
AS soon as our strength in France
had reached proportions which the
president felt gave US just right to
speak. he Joined with Lloyd George
IN putin gthrough the plan TO make
| Gen. Foch the head Of the allied
| and associated armies.
The president followed the devel-
opment OF the military and naval
strategy Of the contending nations
I with keenest and most critical inter-
est before we entered the war.
/ recall his saying to me on one
| occasion.
Daniels. why don't the British
! convoy their merchant ships. and
thus protect them from the subma-
rines?"
lie came back 20 this question
| frequently He could not see the
wisdom of the British plan Of dis
persion, although there were some
able American naval officers who
| approved IT, To him ut seemed a
false strategy.
This opinion became a conviction
with him as the sinking continued
| and the situation grew daily more
serious.
Strongly Favors Convoy.
This theory Of reducing the dan
, ger of sailing ships separately has
been demonstrated 10 be wrong"
he would say. why now. with their
distressing experience. do they hest
tate TO adopt the convoy system ?"
Finally the convoy system was
| adopted. ii took the American ex-
Probationary force to France without
! the loss OF a man on an American
| transport through enemy action. II
| justified in the eyes of the naval
I authorities OF three great nations
/ the wisdom Of the scholarly idealist,
! whose genius for practical sugges-
| tioOn never ceased TO be a cause for
wonder and admiration on the part
of those who were closely associated
with him.
His brilliant mind gave further
/ evidence Of its gift for strategy i'm
\ his contention from the day we en-
tered the war that the only way 10
beat the U-boat warfare of Ger
many was TO bar the U-boats from
/ access TO waters traversed by allied
shipping.
Willing 10 Take Risk.
He was willing 10 run tremendous
risks and to suffer heavy losses IL
there were a possibility OF destroy
ing the U-boats nests.
Speaking to the officers and crew
of the Pennsylvania. he said
I'VE are hunting hornets all over
the farm and letting the nest alone.
/ None Of us know how to. go TO the
nest and crush II. and yet I despair
of hunting hornets all over the sea
wheen I know where the nest il. and
I know that the nest is breeding
hornets as fast as 1 can find them.
I am willing for may part, and I