Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-02-25
DANIELS HOLDS
AVIATION MOST
PRESSING NEED
Declares Nays Success in
Future Pepends on Air
Auxiliary.
REVIEWS 8 YEARS WORK

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-The de-
velopment of aircraft is one of the
most vital considerations with which
the American Navy has to deal, in
the opinion of Josephus Daniels, who
on March 5 retires as Secretary of
the Navy after eight years of serv-
ice.
Secretary Daniels made this statement
today imam interview which covered the
whole period Of the Secretary's incum-
bency and dealt with every important
problem which has confronted him.
IF 1 were coming in as Secretary of
the Navy I would make the consistent
note Of my administration, sounding loud
above everything else, the development
of aviation" said the Secretary.
MUST CONQUER
AIR NEXT.
IF there is a future war-and I hope
there will not be-aircraft will play an
aIl-impOrtant part from the very out
break Of hOstilities and, while they
haven't learned 10 drop bombs accurately
as yet, they will learn to do so event
ually
I'VE have conquered practically all the
natural forces except the air, and the
day is rapidly approaching when we shall
have conquered that. When they day
comes 1 should like to see the Navy lead
ing, even as 1t led In flying across the
Atlantic"
When Mr.. Daniels goes out Of office he
will have served longer than any previ-
Gus Secretary Of the Navy. Gideon
all he
two terms, lacked four days of equalng
Daniels record, having filled the office
from March Z, 1861. until March 3, 1869
There are several points of similarity
between the careers Of Gideon WelIes and
JOsephus Daniels. Before coming to
Washington, Welles was editor OF the
Raleigh IN. c. News and Observer, ian
other country newspaper" as the Secre-
tary likes to put it.
OPPOSES TALK
OF CONSOLIDATION
1.-THE future Of the American Navy de.
Ponds on the attitude Of the Harding
administration" said Secretary Daniels
George Washington had no Secretary Of
the Navy and the time may come again
when the Navy will have no separate
representative in the Cabinet
1T has been proposed-by General
Dawes, believe-that the War and
Navy Departments be consolidated. II
the United States enters an association
Of nations, permitting a reduction in
ornaments, such a consolidation prob
ably would be possible
IF we do not go into such an asso-
cation running the Navy will be the
biggest job in the Cabinet"
Daniels believes the post will be the
biggest job in the Cabinet, because be is
convinced the United States must have
the most powerful navy in the world if
she is to play a lone hand in the at
fairs of the world
Il have no patience" he said. with
this talk Of being the second naval power
In the world. The American Navy must
be second to none; it must be first, and
/ believe a majority of the people of
America will not be content until it is"
SWEATING BLOOD
OVER JAP ISLAND.
what about communications, Mr.
Secretary =" he was asked
You know 1 was in Paris during the
peace conference" he said. Il lived
there. three years in three weeks. |
learned very thoroughly a good many
things which I had known only vaguely
before. I learned that oil and communi-
CdLlOHS are the TWO Things InaJ all great
powers are most interested in, because
they are the two prime essentials for
efficient operation of a feet.
"Otl is the very life OF sea fighting
No coal burner can fight an oil burner
on anything like equal terms. And a
feet without communications is a feet
without eyes.
II have sweat blood over the Island
Of zap since the peace conference. How
ever, those are matters for the State
Department to consider"
do you still believe the Secretary of
the Navy should be a civilian ?"
Il have spent nearly six billion dollars
since have been Secretary Of the Navy"
he answered. Next year the secretary
will spend $3.50, 900, 600 or 100000, 600
more. That is a civilian task"-Copy-
right 1921, International News Service.