"I do not sympathize with this form of criticism," the former director wrote, referring to Mr. Gardner's question, "and believe that it will undermine the confidence of the people in the fleet and the confidence of the fleet people in the ships and in the officers who are harping with the responsibility for the preparation of the fleet for war."

"The officer of the fleet," Daniels continued, "Mr. Gardner said he wished he could have the opinion of the official observer on our battleships as to their target practice. I read him his opinion. These are not my words, not those of any politician, nor any civil appointee of a political party. They are uttered with full knowledge of his responsibility by one of the highest officers of the navy and an expert on these subjects."

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