1
, 5i "r .
THE WEATHER.
10 Pages Today
ONE SECTION
Local rains Tuesday; Wednesday
overcast. . .
VOL.. XCVIII-lSrO. 12
LLMrSTOTON, K. C, TUESDAY CORKIKG; APKIIi 4, 1916
WHOLE KTJMBJIB 39,543
t
1
VILLA UNBOUNDED IS
LEADING PURSUERS BY
60 MILES SAYS REPORT
Has Not Taken Part.in Any Fight
ing With Any American or
Oarranza Troops! ' " '
THE STORY WAS CONCOCTED
Bandit Now at Satevo, According
to Information From Source
Usually Found Reliable.
U. S. Officers Now Have Fair
Knowledge of Situation.
El Paso, Texas, April 3. Fran
cisco Villa, unwounded and ac
companied by only eight men, was
at Satevo, 50 miles south of Chi
huahua City, two days ago, accord
ing to information today from
Mexican sources usually reliable.
If this information is correct, it
bears out previous reports that the
bandit chief is headed towards
. Parral, and is leading his Ameri
can pursuers by at least 60 miles.
The nearest to Satevo American
troops are known to have reached
is San Antonio, 60 miles north-
. west. . ,
The route .said to have been taken
by Villa, one with which he is thor
oughly familiar, is known among the
peons as "Pancho'r road." Prom Guer
rero it leads into a broad.valley which
runs eastr to . San Andres, Villa's old
. headquarters, thence south', to Santa
Ysabel, theeeene' of Villa's massacre of
, 18 American mining1 men, ' and thence
southeast through Satevo to Parral. .
The man .who ,rhtt IIX
'Villa's arrival "at -Satevo : herefe'av.
circumstantial account of the bandit's
maneuvers and plan of campaign. -His
credibility is vouched for by reputa
ble American business men - here, who
have employed him 'for several years. 3
Villa Never Engaged.' .V.
"Villa," he said, "has never taken
part in any fighting with either Amer
ican or Carranza troops. He left the
main body of his troops in the Guer
rero district with orders to oppose as
far as they could the American ad
vance. At the same time " the peons
were instructed to give Information
freely to American officers, always pro
viding the information was .false.-The
story of Villa being wounded was-care-fully
concocted for the express pur
pose of misleading General Pershing
and Colonel Dodd into the : belief that
the bandit was hiding in the mountains
and thereby inducing them to split
their forces into small searching par
ties who would waste their time in the
wild Sierras while Villa was making
his way safely southward."
The part of the story is given color
by the admission of General Pershing
today that his intelligence department
has been giving much misleading in
formation and that it was becoming
more difficult to secure reliable guides.
American Officer Fooled.
Continuing, the man said: : - .-'
"The American officers were- fooled
at first, but they have, a fair knowl
edge of the real situation how and the
advance column is driving , southeast
with all the speed theyi cant command.
Their only, chance of catching up with
Villa- is that they' have ' a good road
and should hot be handicapped by the
big problen of forage and water. The
trail from San : Antonio to Satevo leads
through a broad valley, where there Is
generally plenty of water this time of
the year, and which is fairiy.fertile and
well cultivated. Of course the , peon
farmers will try to conceal their Br'n
but American gold and silver will S
a temptation many of them will be un
able to resist. . .
"If they can catch up with Villa be
fore he gets into the Torreon district,
they ought to be able to kill or capture
him vmt if he is able to join forced
with Canuto Reyes, they wlil have a-j
difficult task head of nem. -
Mexican officials "here and In Juarez
showed no inclination to belittle tha
story Gavira, the Juarez commander,
said "he had no direct news from the
fronC ' . - :
S.0OO WOMEN" AND CHILtlREW
IN FOOD RIOTS IN ; TORREOM
Laredo, Texas, April 3.-erious food
riots, in which' at least T.000 women
and children participated, occurred in
Torreon March 28, according to pas
sengers arriving here today.: The fam
ine stricken inhabitants rushed through
the streets crying for corn. The meal
was obtainable only at fabulous prices.
From the demonstration the riot grew
to general looting. Soldiers were call
ed out but refused - to shoot into the
crowds
The government took immediate. stp
to distribute corn dnd has ordered sev
eral carloads sent to Torreon and vlcln-
U During the rltlng" ' many f hulldfliS?
were damaged. ' . k
PROHIBITION FORCES GAIN
Take Two Counties From -Wets" In
Michlican. on ; Fneo of Retnrwu ?; -
Detroit, Mich., April Z-PribI"
forces gained two counties frorothe
wets in Michigan today on JMg
returns from 1 3 counties 7 M.W"
on local, option issues. Baraga janI
Clare counties, which hayehad alooM,
mL. L.itir -.t in s Ineham, -
w h ich is situated .- Lansing, -the
state capital, probably -Will exceed
1,500, a gain of about fiOO over the vote
two ears ago. -
GiEFRoSSoil
Conviction is He Has Escaped from
Territory in Which the U. S.'
Troops Are Operating.
DIFFICULTY WITH GUIDES
Intelligence Officers of Pershing's Force
Contending With Misinformation
Liberally Supplied on "Villa .
Trail Search Continues.
San Antonio, Texas, April 3. The
fear expressed yesterday at army head
quarters that Francisco Villa had es
caped from ijhe region in which General
Pershing's' cavalry, columns are operat
ing became a conviction tonight. Gen
eral Pershing's report, received after
noon, contained news, that at least a
part ojf the dispersed Villa force that
was dirven from Guerrero March 29 was
moving northeast of "that place, but no
mention, of Villa's whereabouts was
made. The report was dated yesterday.
Six columns of cavalry were yet rid
ing the hills and plains in that section,
while scouts were endeavoring to pick
up the trail of the scattered bands as
well as that of their fugitives. One
force of Villa's men estimated at 100,
commanded by Colonel Beltran, was
located hear Baclneva, about 25 miles
northeast of Guerrero, and information
indicated the "remainder-of the four or
five hundred were still in that region.
No reference was made- In the report
of an encounter mentioned In press dis
patches.'"" ' '
.Information from various , sources)
confirmed " bv General Perahlhflr '-rndU
-f ,
tee punixiv rorce were contending wun
'difficulties ' created by the . misinforma
tion liberally supplied in districts
through which Villa or his followers
had passed. General Pershing, also re
ported he had difficulty in securing re
liable guides. -
Col. Cano Loyal.
His statement that it had been re
ported to him that Colonel Cano had en
gaged a Villa force In a fight on the
same day that the Americans were
driving the bandits from Guerrero serv
ed to allay fear that had arisen that
Cano had revolted, a report that ap
peared well founded.
Which way he has gone is now large
ly a question for General Pershing's
scouts to answer. It was pointed but
at General Funston's headquarters, that
once the trail was picked out, troops
would resume the chase further, into
the interior, although it was -realized
that .this second phase of the punitive
expedition's work would be .far- more
difficult than was the first. It? Is not
probable, it was said, that more troops
than those already In Mexico will be
required. ' ' . ;
, The topography of the country south
of Guerrero is such that successful pur
suit can be conducted only by wide de
ploying of forces and the utilization of
a large part of the infantry.
- From the border to. the extreme sou
thern portions advanced posts already
have traveled 300 miles, when there is
taken into 'account the twistinga of the
trails traversed.
Not Yet Uatn Railroad.
- The Mexico Northwestern Railroad is
not yet being used,! due partly. It was
reported, to a failure of General Ga
vira and General Bell to reach an agree
ment. The placing in service of more
motor trucks alleviated temporarily the"
supply situation, however, and General
Pershing- reported today that motor
trucks are-now "delivering . supplies
south of Namiquipa, almost 200 miles
from the border;
General Pershing , also reported he
found ' grain of analnferioi grade for
the horses and mules,, but grass is
scarce and the need tor hay ts pressing,
Aeroplanes .are being used .for com
munication . between Colonia .Dublan
and the front, and soon will be supple
mented by a .wagon wireless, set, sent
fdrward to one of . the advanced bases.
UNDERWOOD CHALLENGES DU PONT
To Appear and Deny Charges That His
' . Company, fs Opposing Government.
Washington, April 3. Senator Un
derwood, of Alabama; today read in the
Senate ,a letter to Pierre S. DuPont,
charging that Hugh X; ; Cooper1 and
Charles B. Landis, .agents, for the. Du-r
Pont. Powder- Company, had sought- to
defeat tho House bill providing for a
government t nitrogen plant. The Alar
bama senator also challenged Pierre S.
DuPont to specifically deny his charges
in-the Senate 'last week that the Du
Pont company was, working against the
government proje'ct.
r Senator' Underwood letter 1 Tasfn
reply to one, from Mr. DuPont, In which
the' president, of tho. powder, company'
sal his concern had not sought ; to de
f eat the Mussel Shoals, Alabajna nitro
gen project, and- explained the powder
company'sbill providing for a nitrogen
liant.;'v., ..... .... .. .- ....... y . r.;.;
' Dajlas. Texais,J April , 3.? Trinity river
at Dallas tonight stood at 19.4 feet, the
highest Since-May, 1908, when a stage
or 62.6 feet, was recorded. It still, was
rising slowly: Little propertyi damage
has been reported and there has been
no' loss 'oft life' so far as Known. Points
north of :Dallas reported the- river
slowly, falling and ; it . Is believed- the
crest - will pass Dallas tonight or to-morrow."-
'
WM
CO-OPERATING
Rumor That Col. Cano and His
Command Had Deserted to
'v'illa Disposed of Finally. .
- " - V
FROM
REPORT
PERSHING
Says Gano's : Troops ; Engaged Against
Villa in Fight on March 29 No
' Disquieting ' Information,
' Reaches Washinjgton.
" Washington, April 3. Evidence of
co-operation by Carranza troops with
American forces hunting. Villa, appar
ently disposing finally of rumors that
Colonel Cano and his command had de
serted to Villa, came to the War De
partment late today from' General Per
shing. ' He reported an engagement on
March 29, presumably near Guerrero,
hetween Cano's troops and one of the
bands ' into which Colonel Dodd scat
tered the main -Villa force.
As this clash in which Manuel Boco,
leader of the outlaws, is said to have
been killed, occurred the same day that
Colonel' Dodd struck . the' Villa army,
officials were convinced the Carranza
columns were actively co-operating
with the Americans.
' "This seems to dispose finally of the
rumors, of disloyalty -on the part of
Colonel Cano," Secretary Baker said In
a formal -statement. Previous .- reports
had -caused officials to doubt Cano's
loyalty , arid General Pershing's dis
patch was received with great satis
faction. -,-
The fact that three days elapsed af
ter the 48-hour old report of Colonel
podd's engagement before news came
of the Cano fight renewed hopes that
Important subsequent events have not
yet been reported to headquarters.
That some supplies and forage for the
cavalry, even if of poor quality, were
being obtained "off the country" by
General Pershing's forces was another
encouraging -feature of- the latest re
port. The general said corn of Inferior
quality wag plentiful - and that beef
cattle in sufficient quantity had been
secured. '..vU'-' - . .
-Av . : A Nor Inoulrv Made.
iXhftatpartrimeiaUjr -de
nied a report that inquiry bad been
made f General Carranza regarding
troop "movements ,in Northern Mexico.
Neither the State nor the Navy Department-
had disquieting Information, of
any. kind. " . '-. '
The American consul at Monterey ad
vised the j State Department that ex
citement there following the Columbus
massacre" and entrance of, American
troops into Mexico had subsided.
Friendly relations between the two
governments, the dispatch said, were
well understood by. officials and the
native population in the vicinity and
the Americans were receiving consid
erate treatment. .'
Navy 'Department dispatches report
ed' all quiet on both east and west
Mexican coasts. : -
Rumors that the - Washington gov
ernment would object, to sales of muni
tions by foreign countries to the de
facto authorities were formally denied
at the State Department. It was point
ed out that the United States was sell
ing, such supplies to Carranza and
would not be. In a position to object to
similar action by another nation.
Henry P. Fletcher, newly appointed
American ambassador to Mexico, con
ferred for a short time today with Sec
retary Lansing, but deferred extensive
discussion of his .duties. No definite
time for his' departure for Mexico has
been set.
Use of . Railways.
There were no developments here to
ward use of the Mexican railways for
shipment' of supplies to General Per
shing. It was expected- that cars with
such supplies tendered tor transporta
tion by.- General Funstbn would be
ready, tomorrow. Secretary Lansing
said no. response had been made to the
Carranza government regarding
amendments to the proposed protocol
suggested by General Carranza.
- An indication of progress of the de
facto government toward re-establishing
its fiscal affairs was found in the
presence here of a Carranza '. special
representative seeking . information
from Director Ralps, of the bureau of
printing and - engraving, for establish
ment of such a plant in Mexico. Here
tofore the- de facto government has
been purchasing its stamps and cur
rency from private engravers.
ACTION ON NOMINATION OF ,
' V- BRANDKIS IS POSTPONED
Reports Received From All But. Five
- Members of Sub-Committee.
Washington,. April 3. .Action on
the nomination of Louis D. Brandeis to
the Supreme Court, was postponed to
day by - the- Senate Judiciary commit
tee, after it had received reports from
all but five: of the senators on the sub
committee which held hearings.
Senator Fletcher.' ; Democrat, made a
report merely recommending conflrma-
l tlon. Senator; .Walsh made , a long re
port ana senator cniiton, the third
Democrat- will submit a report tomor
row. Senators Cummins and' Works
made" reports, against, confirmation, . -'
Senator Walsh declared in his reports
"The real crime .of, whiclv thisv mart -is
guilty is that he has exposed the in
iquities of men in high , places in our
financial system. He has hot stood In
awe of the , majesty, of wealth.'.'
STORM OFF CAOST OF ,
i . Mf, CAROLINA. LAST NIGHT
' . Washington, April 3. The South
ern storm was off the North Carolina
coast tonight, - according to the
.Weather Bureau. Dttrng tne last
24hours the disturbance caused rain
in iEast Gulf and South Atlantic
states. No important changes in
temperature are indicated for the
eastern half of the country during'
the next 48 hours. . r - : . v ;
GERMANS SHELLING
THE BOURRUS WOOD
Have Straightened Their Line
Northwest of Verdun, Occu
pying French Positions.
EVACUATTD IN DARKNESS
Artillery Duels Between Russians
. and Germans Continue on the
Eastern Front.
Having straightened their line by oc
cupying all French positions north of
Forges Brook .between Haucourt and
Bethincourt, northwest of Verdun, the
Germans no. ware engaged In shelling
the region of the vBourrus wood, five
miles northwest of the fortress. Bast
of the Meuse around Vaux, there "has
been considerable fighting, in which
the French were Victorious in driving
back the Teutons to the northern out
skirts of 'the" Caillette wood, and in
re-occupying the western p'art of the
village of Vaux, which they previously
had evacuated.
The occupation by the Germans of
the Haucourt-Bethincourt front fol
lowed a vigorous attack, in which,
however, no foe was met, the French
having evacuated 'their positions at
night without being observed. From
their new positions south of Forges
Brook and Bethincourt the French
poured a direct and , flanking fire into
the attacking Germans, who suffered
heavy casualities. . . .
Along the remainder of the French
front, artillery; , bombardments have
predominated, although there have been
aerial , combats near Verdun, in which
the Germans. lost' four aeroplanes, -and
aerial raids by the French on various
German ca'ntonrrie'hts in. Belgium.
Artillery duels between Russians and
Germans jQontinue on "the eastern frdntr
An attack by the ARermans. against- the
bridgehead at Isktrtl was repulsed Uy
the Russians. " The usual bombard
ments are in progress on the ' Austro
Italian line.- - - - - '"
Turks Check Russians.
Constantinople " reports that thd
Thrks, strongly-reinforced, -have check
ed the Russian offensive in the Cauca
sus region and that, the Ottoman forces
have" made advances in the Tchoruk
Valley. Petrograd,. however, asserts
the Russians seized heavily fortified
Turkish positions at an altitude of 10,
000 feet on- the upper Tchoruk, and
farther south captured a Turkish po
sition and dispersed Turkish cavalry
detachments.
In Arabia, according to Constantino
ple, the British near Sheikh Osman
were driven from fortified -positions
with heavy casualties and forced to re
treat. The sinking by,-a Turkish submarine
in the Black sea on March 30 of a
12,000 ton Russian . transport with
troops aboard and of two other ves
sels on March 31 is reported by the
Turkish war office. It was on March
30 that the Russian hospital ship Por
tugal was torpedoed and sunk In the
Black sea.
Latest Zeppelin Raid.
A British official statement says that
in' the German air raid over Scotland
Sunday night ten persons-were -killed
and eleven Injured.' There were no
casualties in the sections of England
attacked by the raiders.. :
Berlin asserts Edinbourgh and Leith
and points on the Firth of Forth and
Tyne were visited by -Zeppelins, and
.(Continued on Page Two)
LATEST ZEPPELIN RAID
SUCCESSFUL IS CLAIM
Large Explosions, Fires, Demoli
tions Caused, Says Berlin.
Official German Account of Air Raid
Over England Sunday Night Says '
Attack Lasted Hour and
a. Half.
.. Berlin, April 3. (By Wireless to( Say
vllle) The official German account of
Saturday night's Zeppjelin raid over
England follows: ' .
- "During the night of "April 1-2 naval
airships renewed the. '-attack on the
east coast of England.1- For a period
of one and one-half . hours explosive
and incendiary bombs"vere thrown on
blast furnaces, large fron works and
individual establishments on the south
bank of the Tees and:on the port es
tablishments of Middiesborou'gh and
Sunderland. ' Large explosions, fires
and demolitions were caused and the
successful effects of the attacks were
clearly . noticeable. ;!
i. "Notwithstanding . heavy shelling of
otir airships they suffered neither' loss
es; not" damage." . .
Another Scottish correspondent tells
bf the arrival of a Zeppelin over the
same unnamed town shortly before
midnight. An Incendiary bomb was
dropped that immediately ' set fire to a
building which caused ,- a glare that
must have reveal ed,thfc. whole country
"side to the Germans, the correspondent
Said.:' . .
r Subsequent movements of the machine.-the
correspondent- adds, suggest
ed it t was. Jtble to. determine itsloca?
(Continued on. Page Ten.)
SPY HAD SINGER'S HUSBAND HELD FOR PLOT.
Horst von der Golst.'
Captain Hans Tauscher, husband of
lime. Gadski, the famous singer, has
been held on the charge of trying to
blow up, the Welland Canal in 1914 to
help the Geran government by hin
dering Canadian shipments through' the
waterway. The arrest followed reve
lations of Horst von Ser Golst, a Ger
man spy, who had ' been sentenced to
death and was awaiting execution in
the Tower ot London. Golst's life was
spared and h was sent here on condi
tion that he tell the United States au
thorities of plots of Germans here. He
iSybelieved to1 know much about the
operations of Captain von Papen, at
tache of the German embassy in Wash
ing, who was dismissed ffom the United
States. .
VON PAPEN WAS BACKER OF
SCHEMES OF
Indicated by Photographic Copies
of Letters Said to Have Been .
Written by Hinv
ON FILE IN WASHINGTON
Former German Attache Said . to Have
Asked Aid for Alleged German
Spy Preparing? to Bow" TJn
. Welland Canal.
. Washington, April 3. Photographic
copies of letters said to have, been
written by Captain Von. Papen, with
drawn German military attache, to per
sons in this country asking aid for von
der Goltz the alleged German spy,
brought to New York a week' ago by
Scotland Yard detectives, are in the
possession of the United States gov
ernment. These letters, it is said,
were written when, von der Goltz was
planning to blow up the .Welland Ca
nal. One was addressed to'a German
government official in this country and
met with such response that, von der
Goltz was able to leave the United
States with an American passport is
sued under alias of Bridgman Taylor.
The name of this official, who still is
at his post in this country, has been
carefully guarded. In the .letter to
him' von Papen, it is understood, ex
plained that the bearer, von der Goltz,
was a reputable and trustworthy per
son, In the confidence of the writer
and as such commended him to the re
cipient's good offices. Officials have
expressed belief tonight that this letter
established beyond question the fact
that von der. Goltz's activities in try
ing to bring about invasion of Canada,
and in planning destruction of the Wel
land Canal were endorsed by von Pa
pen as von der ,Goltz.
Photographic copies of this and oth
er letters from von . Papen have been
submitted to the State Department.
With, them' went a memorandum detail
ing essentials of von der Goltz's re
cent statement to Department of Jus
tice officials. This has neen added to
the confidential memorandum given to
the State Department before von Pa
pen's withdrawal was requested by the
American government.
The contents of the confidential mem
orandum are known only,, to President
Wilson and to one or two Department
of Justice officials. So complete, how
ever, Is it considered that the von der
Goltz disclosures add little to its im
portance. Captain von Papen's alleged letters
commending-von der Goltz are con
tained in the batch of correspondence
taken from .von aer Goltz in England
(Continued on Page Two) .
THE DAY IN CONGRESS
'V. SENATE
Met at noon.
Resumed debate, on the. Army bill.
Judiciary committee postponed Until
Tuesday . consideration of Brandeis
nomination. . .-
Recessed; at- 5:20 to noon Tuesday.
ry. 'i. HOUSE
Met at noon." ' ' - .: '
Miscellaneous bills requiring unani
mous consent were considered.
Secretary Daniels again discussed
National defense before " Naval com
mittees , : . ;
Brigadier General Crozier, chief of
ordnance, testified before the. Military
committee. - '
. Representatives' Borland, Missouri,
and Doolittle, Kansas, urged investiga
tion of packing houses before Judi
ciary committee; .-'.,., - - ,
'- Arjourned at- 5:15 P.. M. to. 11 A, M.
Tuesday, ; - -
Hme. Johanna Gadski.
VON DER GOL TZ
Court House Used
By Mob As Gallows
NEGRO TAKEN FROM OKLAHOMA
COURT ROOM AT HEARING AND
HANGED TO; BALCONY OF
BUILDING- BY MOB
Idabell. Okia., April 3. After listen
ing to evidence at the preliminary hear
ing here today of Oscar Martin, ne
gro charged with having attacked a
thirteen-year-old girl, a mob of several
hundred men over-powered court at
taches and hanged the negro from a
second story balcony of the court
house. -
At a pre-arranged signal the mob
sprang up from among the spectators
at the conclusion of the evidence. While
court officers were 1 held prisoners the
negro was dragged to the balcony from
which he was thrown after one end of
a rope had been placed around his
neck and the other, made secure to a
post. .
The mob dispersed Within a few min
utes and no - further disorder is anti
cipated. .
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
INDICATES SUBMARINE WORK.
In Destruction of Sussex and Other
Vessels Change of Policy.
. Washington, . April . 3.- Accumulation
by the Sta,te Department of circum
stantial evidence indicating the Sus
sex and other unarmed merchant ships
have been' attacked, by German subma
rines, probably will make necessary a
change in the administration's plan for
dealing with the broad questions of
submarine warfare and .arming of mer
chant ships , for defensive purposes.
This became known tonight after the
State Department' announced receipt of
a dispatch which - quoted one of the
survivors of the Manchester Engineer
disaster as saying .that he had seen
the periscope of a submarine.
Other dispatches - eturing the day
brought information that a number of
affidavits from Sussex - survivors were
being, forwarded by Ambassador Sharp
at Paris and that Ambassador Gerard
at Berlin was promised an early reply
to inquiries regarding the Sussex, the
Englishman and other ships within a
few days, it was indicated the German
government would not wait for subma
rine commanders to report, but would
have inquiries made at- submarine
bases.
CLYDE STEAMSHIP COMPANY'S
PROPOSAL FOUND JUSTIFIED
To Cancel Rail-and-Ocean Rates from
Along Coast to Charlotte.
Washington, April ,3. Proposal of
the Clyde Steamship Company to can
cel ocean and rail rates from points in
New England and along, the eastern
seaboard ' via Charleston to Charlotte
and other points - lnr North and South
Carolina, leaving-in effect a combina
tion of higher rates, was found Justi
fied today by the. Interstate Commerce
Commission. All classes and commod
ities are effected. -
Washington, Apriv -3. A quantity of
correspondence belonging to Horyt von
der Goltz, . alleged German spy, who
said he was directing' head of the plan
to blow up the Welland Canal, has
been, seized by Scotland Yard' detec
tives and will , be made public - short
ly by the British foreig noffice, accord
ing, to announcement today by Depart
ment of Justice officials.
DANIELS APPEALS
III BEHALF OF THE
IF
limit;
Says Present Congress Cannot bd
Asked to Make Up for Deficien
cies of 20 Years Past.
HE ANSWERS HIS CRITICS
Determined Effort to be Made fon
Six Capital Ships, Two Dread
naughts, Four Cruisers.
Washington, April s. The House)
Naval committee brought to an end to
day prolonged hearings oh the 1917
naval appropriation bill. Secretary
Daniels closed, a three-day statement
before the committee with a final ap
peal In support of the administration's
five-year building programme. A sub
committee immediately will begin
framing the bill.
It k became known tonight that a de
termined effort would be made to pro-v
vide for six capital ships, two dread
naughts and four battle cruisers, as a
compromise between the recommenda
tions of the Secretary and the Navy
General Board.
Mr. Daniels parried all efforts today
to get a statement as to what relative
place among naval powers the United
States should occupy. He said the five
year programme he had mapped out
would, not put the country In second
place, In his judgment, and that the
present Congress could' not be asked to
make up for deficiences of 20 years
past. At the close of the European
war, he said, he believed a great op
portunity would come for international
limitation of armament and with a
strong building programme adopted,
the United States would be in a better
position to urge that movement suc
cessfully than If Its fleet was weak.
.. Assailed by One Butler.
Representative ' Butler, of Pennsyi
varrlaxepubUcan assailed the So ere- -tarysreebmmehdations
for a govern
mentprojectile factory. He asserted
the specifications for navy armor
piercing shells were so high they could
not be met by manufacturers and also
declared' he had reason to believe that
the specifications "for navy 14-inch
guns and other material had been re
vealed during Mr. Daniels' administra
tion to the Russian and German gov
ernments. He suggested that Rear
Admiral Strauss, chief of ordnance, be
asked to produce a letter to the Krupp
company of Germany.
Admiral Strauss,'' summoned later,
read the letter in question. It was a
reply to an offer made before the war "
by the Krupp company to supply 14
irich guns for the United States navy.
The ordnance bureau answered that if
guns to meet the requirements outlined
in the offer could ' be provided, the
company's bid would have attention.
"These are not the specifications of
our 14-inch gun," Admiral Strauss
said. "They are for a much superior
gun."
The Secretary and the Admiral said
they had no knowledge of any plans or -other
information having been impart
ed to the Russian government.
In answer to Representative Butler's
assertion that armor piercing shell spe
cifications were too high. Admiral.
Strauss produced department records to
show the Midvale and Crucible Steel
Companies had delivered large quanti
ties of shell- that had passed the tests,
Daniels Replies to Criticisms.
Secretary Daniels replied at length
to criticisms of himself, implied r
stated, during the testimony of Rear
Admiral Flske, former aide for oper
ations, and became involved in a warm
controversy-with Representative Brit
ten, of Illinois, Republican. Respond
ing to Chairman Padgett's questions,
he said Admiral Fiske sought appoint
ment as commander of the Atlantic fleet
when Rear Admiral Badger retired, and
repeatedly requested it to the Secre
tary's great embarrassment. Mr. Dan
iels said he told' Admiral Fiske that
Rear Admiral Fletcher, then command
ing a squadron in Mexican waters,
seemed entitled to the appointment. Ad
miral Fiske replied that Fletcher did
not want it, the Secretary said, arid'
asked that the appointment be held up
until he could write to Fletcher. This
was done, Mr. Daniels said, and when
Fletcher replied he would be honored
by the command, he was appointed, and
from -that time on Admiral Fiske was
not in harmony with the Navy De
partment. "Our first , difference," said: the Sec
retary, "was over the wine mess or-,
der. Admiral Fiske . was greatly ag
grieved. He said navy officers would
go to using cocaine. My only regret
about the order is that I did not issue
it on March 5, when I came into office,
instead of waiting." .
Why the Wine Mess Order.
Mr. Daniels said he had been prompt
ed to Issue the order because of many
cases that came before him of young
officers addicted to drink. He cited one
man who told him his son, a young
navy officer, had never used, liquor in '
any form before he went aboard ship.
Although he had resolved to ask for
Admiral Flake's resignation, the Secre
tary said, he changed his mind when
Congress, created the office of chief of
operations to supplant the aide system,
and intended to allow the admiral to.
serve as aide until the office expired.
The admiral resigned, however, before -j
the new law became effective. , ' '
Representative Britten directed "at
tention to Admiral Flske's statement ,
that he ' had resigned because he MM
differed with Mr. Daniels on the prepar- :
edness question. The secretary ' said .
that was not the reason given to Aim
for the resignation. RepresentavJro
Britten asked that certain letters from
Admiral Flske and the general board
to the Secretary, warning him that the
navy was unprepared t or-war, be placed
t (f!ni)tiid otj Page Two.)
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