Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 May 1920 — DANIELS BACKS NAVY PERSONNEL [ARTICLE]

DANIELS BACKS NAVY PERSONNEL

Secretary Reviews All Legislation During His Term of Office. REPLIES TO FISKE'S ATTACK Says U. S. Had 520,021 Against 415,162 In the British Navy When the Armistice Was Signed—Blocked “Slackers’ Paradise.” Washington. May 21.— Secretary Daniels replied to the criticisms of naval officers that he did not take adequate steps to secure sufficient personnel for tile navy before the United States entered the war. He told the senate committee Investigating the navy s conduct of the war that efforts to link his personnel policies in 1914 with the world war had been “abortive” and declared that if fie erred then it was because lie followed the precedents established by those who preceded him in office. He had been criticized by Rear Admiral Fiske and other officers because in 1914 lie only asked congress for enough men to fill the peace complements of the ships, Mr. Daniels said, although he was only following recommendations of the general board, made In conformity with established policies of the department. Mr. Daniels reviewed at length all of the personnel legislation during his term of office and told the committee that what the navy did in enrolling and training young men during the world war has had no precedent in any navy during the last or any previous war. The British navy, he said, totaled 415,162. officers and men when the armistice was signed, against 520,021 for the United States.

Recommended 10,000 Men. In May, 1916, the general board recommended 10,000 men as the number necessary for the navy for war in the Atlantic. Mr. Daniels said. In August of that year he recommeni|ed, and congress authorized just 3,000 less than that number, he declared. “Nobody in the navy in 1915 or 1916 dreamed that in any war so many as 500,000 men would be needed,” he declared. It was not until after the United States entered the war that it became evident preparations must be made on a much larger scale than 100,000 men, Mr. Daniels said. Efforts of Admiral Fiske to convey to the committee an Impression that the secretary directed the general board in 1914 to cut out certain recommendations with regard to the personnel were unjust to the board and to him, Mr. Daniels said. He did not ask for a large increase in personnel that year, he said, because he did not believe congress or the country was disposed to spend the money necessary, adding, however, that he did not order any part of the board’s recommendations withheld/- He did suggest that the board stress the building program and eliminate reference to any particular increase in men that year, the witness said. Blocks Slackers. Only drastic actions prevented the naval reserve force from becoming a “slacker’s paradise” early in the war, Mr. Daniels said. The awarding of commissions in class 4 to unqualified young men by naval officers went so far, he said, that he was forced to issue orders prohibiting further enrollments in this class. “Commissions in the naval reserve had been cheapened by lax issues of commissions to men who ought to have been enlisted in the ranks and told that the only way to get a commission was to earn it by service in the lower grades,” said Mr. Daniels. “It had gone to such an extent as to threaten a public scandal.” Mr. Daniels concluded his direct statement before the committee.