Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-04-21

had TO QUIT. r rom LAc lAAc1 u ~e-N5
advocate of unified command. he
insisted that American forces must /
be organized as American army uHlls-
Urged audacity, as naval pollcy lor
the allied and associated powers
'eCrush the hornets nests, or prevent
the escape Of the hornets Presl-
n dent favored convoy system ana Hlne
II barrage Woodrow Wilson as q boy /
y had his heart set on a naVaI career
q BY JosEPHUs DANIELS,
II Former Secretary of the Navy.
Convrirbt 1921. by John f. Ollie.
CoDTrirLt by National Newspaper
service Copyright in Great Britain,
canada and throughout Europe. All /
rights reserved, including TRANSLATION ION
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ARTICLE Z.
President Wilson never left my
office. and I never left a White House
conference during the war years,
without the reflection shaping itself
IN nv mind that the world had lost
n great military leader when it
gained a great educator and ozecu-
tive.
It was President Wilson, who, be
fore we entered the war, saw that the
onIy hope of the allies lay in achiev-
ing unity Of command.
It was President Wilson who advo-
Gated this policy when we gained the
right to a voice in the military cOun-
Z ellis of those who were fighting the
central empires.
It was President Wilson who re-
sisted the strong urging Of some OF
e~his American advisers, and Of the
British and French military author
tiles. to permit our American soldiers
to be used merely as replacement
troops for the allied armies.
II was President Wilson who insisted
that the American forces must be organ
lied as American Army units, under
American command, and who sustained
General Pershlng in carrying this policy
Into effect at the earliest possible mo
ment-
It was President Wilson who contended
that America must be in position on land
and water TO carry the war through to
victory. even Il the allies were forced
20 abandon II.
STAY THROUGH
TILL VICTORY.
This extreme possibility he envlsaged.
and when we entered the war he had re-
solved in his soul that whatever might
befan Great Britain. France, Italy or
Tapan. the United States would stick un-
a IL autocracy was beaten. 1t was this
81 esolute purpose which made his leader
81 hip so inspiring TO those OF US VINO
kkIerved with him through days which
Rere always anxious and not infrequent-
II discouraging.
In matters affecting the Navy he was
as wise and as forceful as in military
matters.
He saw at once the vital Importance OF
making egress or the U-boat difficult
II not impossible. II L was not prac-
ucabIe to 20 into the rat holes and kill
III the rats. the same end might be at
.ained by stopping the holes up, or
laiIIng even that, by setting traps so
.hickIy around the holes that rats at
tempting to get by would run serious
peril Of being caught
WILSON SHOWS
GENIUS IN WAR.
Newton Baker could tell many On Incl
dent TO illustrate the almost inspired
genius Of Woodrow wilson In dealing
With army problems. l have no doubt
he will some day. Naturally / am more
familiar with his gift of strategy as
displayed in the solving Of naval prob
lens Before 1 relate some incidents
from my own experience which throw
light upon this phase Of the former
Presidents many sided character l want
to outline more fully the general situa-
ton and circumstances which form the
basis for the assertions 1 have made
concerning his military leadership in
the opening para graphs of this article.
Almost Immediately following our dec
laration of war we began hearing from
Great Britain and France suggestions as
to the wise course for US to pursue in
such armed help as we might be able TO
give.
Obviously we had no ready made.
trained and disciplined army to send
overseas-at least not of such strength
as TO be a considerable factor in the sit
uation. It was not unnatural nor Who'll
ly unreasonable that the allies should
suggest the best plan for us to follow
would be to place such forces as we
could raise under allied command, where
<in association with the trained and vet
eran troops Of France and Great Britain.
they would find support and learn more
readily the lessons that the fighting man
must know.
PRESIDENT AND
PERSHING VETO PLAN.
Admiral Sims together with some
other Americans, were inclined to agree
with the allies that this plan was the
one we should adopt
But not so the President He dismissed
the proposal as soon as he heard of it,
General Pershing was equally emphatic
In repudiating it. If Gen. Pershing had
recommended II, I believe President vii
son would have been tempted most
strongly to recall him. The President
believed America could raise and train
an expeditionary force big enough and
quickly enough to take its equal place
in the field with the veteran armies and
do its full share to bring victory He
had faith in American capacity, and he
knew that Americans would never fight
so well under alien leadership as they