Show U. U S. S NAVY GOOD AS ANY AFLOAT AT DANIELS Declares Recent of Secretary Criticisms 0 of American Fleet Are Libelous Asserts Organization Is s Better Than an at Any Time in Its History NEW V YORK May 15 Branding Branding the recent open letter of the National Security league as a libel on the navy asserting that had the signers of that letter which letter which declared the United States navy weak weak been been informed as to the facts they never would y have subscribed to it it declaring that criticism of the navy is caused either by misinformation or by partisan politics Secretary Secretary Secretary Secre Secre- tary Josephus Daniels defended the navy here tonight This defense came in a speech delivered by the secretary at ata a here at which officers of the Atlantic fleet were guests of honor He said that the navy is efficient and powerful and that the administration Intends to make It more efficient and more powerful J Our lOur i good enough noUgh the secretary said With your our help as long as 1 am secretary of ot the navy w we will all try to make It better belter The naV navy Is strong It Is not strong enough With the help of or the whole American people and andor of or a congress and an all administration mInistration thoroughly committed d to the policy of or taking leave to be strong upon the seas spas we will make It stronger You ha have hat t seen seen antI and lately you have heard far tar too loo much of the of-the the pes- pes who visits one of or our warships warships warships war war- ships with a disappointed face tact hooking looking looking look hook ing for something upon which he can hang a tale of ot woe Tell Ten him that the Ne New York is at once a source of or pride an and protection and he t tells lIs you OU that as long as we have not as many New Yorks as all the nations of the earth co combined It Is worthless Point out that a a. flotilla of ot American submarines recently made one of ot the I longest t continuous us runs on record and he sighs a deep sigh and his only com comment nt Is But we Rye ought to have as many as the three biggest European European European Eu Eu- nations combined Too Much Criticism i The na navy and its head ha have vo b been en the target of ot much much m criticism o of late some from those honest In their be beliefs beliefs bt be- lIers but bul sadly Ignorant or misinformed misinformed formed and much from purely purel partisan partisan partisan par par- and political sources which had no interest whatever In facts As Corsuch for Cor such criticisms as conc concerned myself I have kept silent Time must jus- jus Continued on pa page gage e 2 21 U. U S. S NAVY Continued from page paRe 1 11 tit or time condemn Th The splendid condition of or th the ships for lor which you rou are responsible the splendid discipline cl- cl pline of or tIle the crews clews which you OU have p established make lo today a a far better than anything I could coul have e b been n able to sa say As AR tine they ride rille to- to at their anchors on th the river Ier let leL them stand fl as their o n spokesmen spokes spokes- men n and I rejoice that th It Is m my pleasure a ure to greet t here tonight the tile commander In chief of or the thc Atlantic fleet tie Admiral Fletcher A few days dal ago ngo a new organization tion bearing be the name nome of the tilt National National Na Na- lional Security league su Issued an open letter announcing the result of I investigations tons anti published to the the world orid orld this st statement Investigation In discloses It Is asserted asserted as- as that the tile na navy is neither ado- ado i j quate nor prepared for tor war r that itIs it itis is inadequately mann manner r is short of or ammunition and has no organized organize I reserve reller of trained men i that tile the I submarine flotilla exists chiefly on paper that fast scout cruisers battie battlo bat- bat I tie lIo cruisers aeroplanes mine la layers ers supply ships sl and transports are lacking and that practice has ilas been neglected or altogether omitted omit omit- te- te ted 1 Statements Untrue It the gentlemen who signed the above libel of the navy had kno known n the tho real truth their signatures would I never JH ha have hae e been appended f It If the they had not been misled and misinformed thc they would woul have written Instead In estl Investigation atlon Ili discloses closet that then the ito n nV navy V is 18 efficient t and prepared for tor war var that our ships are well manned that the supply of or munitions Is vastI vastly vastly vast vast- I ly larger largel than ever before and the c capacity of ot our plants has been ben practically practically dou doubled l d that thal the last congress congress con con- gress gresa authorized a 11 naval reserve resT which Is In process of or organization that we wo have ha seventy four submarines rines authorized d bu built lIt or building which are the equal of or those of or an another any other country and amI that one flotilla of oC submarines has just completed a remarkable lon long distance run thoU that wo wu rt recognize the need neel for or more fa fast t light cruisers that we have ha late lately or ordered ered eight lu aeroplanes an and a dirigible diri million dollars dallal's specially special special- gible out of a the last congress ss ly iy by for aviation that within the last lalit two mine equipment has hag years tarR the tue navys navy's been more mor than doubled that we are arc area a adding yearly carl to o our force of or auxiliaries aux aux- 8 while more time has hns been devoted dE' this year ta to target practice and maneuvers than titan in many years ears V past We e are proud of our na navy nay y as aa asit it II Is We e are resolved to give o our operation co-operation in making makini It better an ang and anda g a greater reater Ia |