Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-11
REVEALED
BY EX-NAVY SECRETARY
Joscphus Daniels in Our Navy at War JnIocks Clos
cts and Pays Glowing Tributes to Former
President Wilson.

OUR NAVY AT WAR ny Josephus
Daniels. Secretary OF the Navy from
1913 10 1921 illustrated by repro
auctions OF original and official pie
lures. Geors. II. D"ran. publishers
New York
During Il year following the arms
tee We were delugcd with war rem
iHisccnccs from both sides OF tn.
Atlantic, som" OF compelling interest
and historical value. Each author
explained mad" charges revealed
phases OF the Struggle. which. under
tn" rigid censorship Of Mars had re-
nained p"rpl"sinT problems 20 TIA"
vast majority. Such men as Gibbs.
I"llicoc. Warrie r. Wei. Sir Conan
poyl". j. cast"Il Hopkins. Lieutenant
T.. R"quin. rcrcr scott, cardinal
Mcrci"r, Sims. Ray S,annard Baker
aud rumul,y have spoken. To say
nothing Of Dr. Richard Gr"iliug aud
other prominent German leaders.
We have listened. wondered and ad-
rnired. and now comes our late Sec
rotary "f the Navy with 4 frank.
sincere story Of our navy at war. \
story that is convincing from its
first 10 last chapter and one that is
told in crisp newspaper style. It
* packed fun Of tn" democratic
spirit Of the man who wrote IT. He
IF what our navy did before and
during III. great conflict. There IL
refreshing absence Of the personal
pronoun. or any desire 20 impress.
The reader that h" made Wilson. or
ANYBODY else, carry out his plans
The same principles OF justice. truth.
morality and patriotism which have
always animated this quiet, south
"rn g-ntlemnu'S actions and which
was charm %! his last book. The
Navy and the Nation are Ia he
found In his latest work.
Reveals Skeletons.
Justice has demanded that he
should unlock closets. sometimes re-
vealing wholesome. skeletons
" hen this is necessary. II has been
done in frank. courteous way and
when criticism is necessary IL has
been constructiv.ly given.
The first paragraph OF this hook
reads Ike tho Leading one Of a hot"
newspaper scoop" It is the key TO
tho remaining chapters. Action
starts at once and IL sustained. In
the hrst chapter. tho secretary la
rnerts what ne feels vas the senti-
ment of both ours and tho English
navy's. that out great fleet and its
personnel should have had TO skulk
In iand-locked harhors. instead Of
giving battle on the open sea, as had
John Paul Jones. Dewey Drake and
Lord Nelson. In this connection, We
gather that this policy was not al
ways in accord with his views. ON
page seven We read: Whatever may
he said of the wisdom Of the ancient
prudent doctrine Of a flee; in being
] shall always believe that. II at the
opportunc time. such fighting sail
ors as Beatty and Carpenter. Mayo
aud Rodman and Wilson. could have
Joined in u combined assault. they
would have found a way or made one,
to sink the German fleet in spite OF
Heligoiand and all the frownine
German guns"
Early in Mr. Daniels story W" are
Informed that the German note. rel
ative 10 unrestricted submarine war
fare, was in tho hands OF Bernstein
twelve days before delivering II 10
the Secretary OF state and that IL
was not delivered until few hours
before the submarines were I" strike.
I He gives us. also, Il graphic descip-
/ tion OF the memorable Cabinet meet
I ing ot February q 1917. and how
! frankly and freely President Wilson
/ heard and discussed the fate Of our
nation. In this account, and, In fact.
/ al! others. concerning Mr.. Wilson.
/ the author presents clear. impaS
! stoned estimate OF his decisive ma
| ture, always loyal, hut making no
/ attempt 10 distort his great eNecu-
/ tive gift. President Wilson. ne says.
| had no sympathy with the fear OF
| hurting ones feelings. His orders TO
! Secretary Daniels was to Get and
| keep thu best Incidentally this
book is 4 splendid study OF Woodrow
| Wilson
| II will. perhaps. be shock IN
! many. when they read OF the famous
Sims mission To London. Accordin &