Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-03
NAVY PROBERS MAY
MEET ON THURSDAY
Admiral Rodman Seen as
Chairman, With Hammond
as Alternative Possibility:
Continued From First Page1

Continued From First Page)
Adams injected his views into the con-
troversy for the first time.
Adams charged Gardiner with de-
scending from the high plane of dig
nified discussion to that of personal at
tack upon the commander in chief of
the Navy, the President, a procedure
which deeply resent"
without going into details" he said,
Il take the Liberty Of saying the pam
phlet is full Of misleading statements 4"
There is considerable speculation as
to just how far the five-man court
named by the President will 60 For
one thing, 1t was directed specifically
to examine the accuracy Of only such
statements by Gardiner las may be
readily determined from departmental
records
In addition, it was warned away not
only from GARDENERS opinions and con-
illusions, but also from Judiciary or
general policies cf the Navy"
Secretary Adams Statement.
Secretary Adams statement follows
AS Secretary OF the Navy I wish to
take this opportunity to express my
unqualified disappToval Of the methods
used by the Navy League in the PAM
phlet issued by II dated October %.
1881. In the pamphlet the Navy
League has descended from the high
plane OF dignified discussion to that of
personal attack upon 1.-THE commander
in chief of the Navy, the President, "a
procedure which / deeply resent. In
this opinion l am supported by all lead
ing naval officers with whom 1 have
talked, all OF whom take exception to
this method Of conducting affairs
without going into detail, take the
liberty OF saying that the pamphlet is
fun OF misleading statements.
In particular, l would like TO state
that the last paragraph of the last
page Is false. The budget limitations
Tor 1888, which have effected a saving
OF over $50,000.OGO. have not caused a
single combatant ship Of the feet to be
oecommlSSioned, nor have the limita-
lions imposed stopped the construction
work on any of the new ships now
building or on the moderniZstion work
oelng carried on on three battleships.
Statements Harm Navy.
Finally. as a friend Of the service of
which I am the Secretary regret that
| such pamphlet should be put out by
an organization which pretends to be a
friend Of the Navy. for statements like
those published can only do the Navy
harm and may serve TO ALLEVIATE the
friendship OF many men who truly re-
gard the Navy as the first line OF the
Nations defense
The Navy League leader claimed d.
rectly. for instance, that President
Hoover and Prime Minister Macdonald
in 1929 reached agreements that never
have been divulged In their entirety, -
and that the administration refused 70
| allow an executive session OF the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee to view
/ the full record Of negotiations prior tC
the London Naval Conference.
These statements have been labeled q
tissue OF falsehoods" by Secretary
| Stimson.
Gardiner limited also that the pro-
poSal Of Foreign Minister Grandi o.
Italy for a one-yesr arms holiday actl-
ally was inspired by the Hoover adj
ministration, and that II this Govern
ment accepts the proposal 1t does 81
knowing that its action specifically
serves British and japanese interests.
Secretary Adams yesterday attacked
particularly GARDENERS statement thai
the President was motivated by a de.
sire 10 restrict, reduce and Starve thl
Navy at every turn under the plea o.
budget limitation.
Hits Small Navy Group.
The naval Secretary struck out sun,
day at a statement by a small Nav
group. the World Peace Foundation
that in 1880 the United States spen
about $500. o0o, 600 more on its Nav,
than did Great Britain. He termel
such statements 'insidiously inimicai
TO the interests OF the United States
Still another statement was thrown
yesterday into the controversy 1t va
asserted in an authoritative quarter. il