The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-05-11

" SSAAotQA4V S&Soo~4ilC Va AIdGl
"Mr. Jones, what did Admiral
Taussig say?"
And the first year man clicks
his heels and snaps back the ira
ditional Annapolis answer; Sir,
we are now readyl"
This refers not TO Rear Admiral
Joseph K, Taussig's recent and
startling prediction that war be-
tween the United States and Japan
was inevitable, but to statement
he made TO the British during the
World War which has become n
naval classic,
TauSSig was IN command of
destroyer squadron which arrived
IN Ireland shortly after the United
States entered the war. Upon his
arrival, the British asked how soon
his ships could proceed TO the
North Sea for submarine duty,
Taussig and his men had just
crossed a stormy Atlantic, and the
British expected they would re-
quire ut least week TO get ship
shape. But Taussig's reply was
approximately the one now quoted
by the Annapolis plebeS. (Actually
he said he would need "a hours TO
take Oh oil and freshwaterJ
This gives one sidelight on the
man who astounded the Ameri-
can public with his frankless IN
predicting war with Japan.
REPUBLICAN AMMUNITION
That prediction has now been
discussed and editorialized from
coast TO coast and from beer-hall
10 parlor, But there are several
beckstage factors which have not
been discussed except IN hush
hush groups OF naval officers when
they get together,
ONE of these Is the mysterious
manner In which Admiral Taus-
sig happened TO be called TO tes-
tify before the Senate Naval AZ
fairs Committee.
THE OTHER Is that no ,ove has
been lost between the President
and Admiral Taussig. This dates
back 10 q row they had when
Roosevelt was assistant secretary
of the navy. So there Is some
susp!cion-perhaps unjustified--
that Taussig might have made his
helligerent statement just at
time when 1t was sure to win votes
for the Republicans.
Regarding the first of these, II
Is not generally known that
Admiral Tausslg's name was
suggested 10 the Senate COM
mittee by vigorous peace critics
Of the President, specifically
by Mauritz Hallgren. He acted
for the National Peace Confer
ence. led by Oswald Garrison
Willard, Frederick Libby and
Dorothy Deter.
Furthermore, the Senate Naval
Affairs Committee got the i'm
preston from peace leaders that
the admiral's testimony would be
unfriendly TO the Administration.
II they expected Taussig to rap
the big navy program, however,
they were 100 per cent mistaken.
He was vigorously for it. But If
they wanted to pin a belllgerent
Far Eastern policy on Roosevelt,
they got their wish. For undoubt-
edly Taussig's prediction of war
with Japan plays into Republic
can hands.
ROOSEVELT-TAUSSIG ROW
Admiral Taussig's row with the
President goes back to 1915. when
several naval officers. particularly
the late Admiral Sims, were cri-
tical Of Josephus Daniel and of
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt in
their preparation for war.
Taussig was then Chief of En-
listed Personnel In the Bureau of
Navigation and joined in this cri-
ticism. After the war he even tes-
titled before a congressional in
vestigating committee that the
Navy Department heads had failed
ito take adequate stems 10 provide
personnel necessary for the proper
conduct Of the Navy during the
war;"
This was in 1920. Just as the
Republicans were trying to dig up
political dirt to be used In the
Harding campaign, In which
Roosevelt ran as Democratic can
didate for vice president. Natur-
ally Roosevelt resented Taussig's
playing into the hands OF the OPP
position. and write a sharp letter
TO the Senate Naval Affairs Com
mittee denying the charges.
Thirteen years later. when
Roosevelt became President. Taus-
sig had Just been appointed AS