The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-12
REPORT STANDS
FOR LARGE NAVY
Chairman FoSS Makes Some
Startling Recommendations
WANT STILL MORE CRUISERS
Says American People viii Not Stand
Sacrificing Navy for Internal I'm.
provements-citizens Must
Be Protected Everywhere.
WANT STILL MORE CRUISERS

Washington, February lin the
report on the naval appropriation bill
to the house today by Chairman Fass
of the naval affairs committee the
gauntlet thrown down by Senator
German in his announced policy of in
ternal improvements in place of naval
construction is taken up with Vigor.
The report says
"The committee recommended the
construction of more than the usual
number of cruisers, in view OF the TACT
that last year we provided for nve
large battleships. This will give bet
ter proportion to our navy.
IF we judge public sentiment right
ly, it is in favor Of the continued pol
icy of building up our navy Ii we
stopped now, we would be left behind
the leading countries of the world.
The American people will not endorse
the policy of sacrificing the American
navy for internal improvements nor Is
there any such necessity.
Foremost and above all must stand
considerations of the national defense,
maintaineee of our foreign policies ana
protection of American citizens every
where The American people are not will
ing to lessen their influence on this hem
isphere nor forsake their interests on the
other"
Appropriation for New Ships.
The appropriation for new ships for the
navy as we'll as for the completion of
those now under construction is dealt
within the report as follows;
ITO complete all the ships authorized up
to the present time, including their con-
structions and machinery, armor, arma-
ment and equipment will cost 49, 10Y,
which mey be divided as follows:
Construction and machinery, SAG, 532 ,45o;
armor and ornaments, $35, 7s6, 209; equip
ment, 100000.
"Of this sum we appropriate in this bill
$19 S26, $50 for construction and machinery
and S12 100000 for armor and armament,
making a total of $31 S26, $50, which leaves
balance of $50 500 to be appropriated
hereafter
The ships authorized are: One first-class
battleship of 5000 tons, to cost SH5,0OO;
two frst-class armored cruisers of 1900
tons, to cost each $6,505.OOO; three scout
cruisers of not more than 3,750 toms to
cost each s2,2OO,OOO two golfers to be
capable of accompanying the battle fleet
to carry 5000 tons of cargo coal, total
cost of each to be $2,5Oo,OoO
Cost of $2s, ss5,oo
The total cost of the above programme
will be SOS, 1856 900. 1T is left within tie
discretion of the secretary of tina navy to
build any or all q theses ships in govern
ment navy Yards in case it shall appear
that the ship building concerns have en-
! Leredsainto any combination or under
standing to deprive the government Of
fair and unrestricted competition in let
ting contracts for the construction Of any
of these vessels.
1t is stated the greatest naval problem
of the day is the training of men for the
navy. An increase of 5000 men is provided
for and a training station on the great
lakes recommended.
The report gives in detail illustrated
with colored plates the. strength Of the
various navies of the world. The total
amount is $685. OBS.
A text for discussion of the Panama
canal question is furnished by Mr.. Foss
in his comments on the necessity for a
naval station in Cuba. After stating the
item in the appropriation for this work
amounting to $4,000. Mr. Foss speaks of
Gupantanamo as follows
Location Would Be Good.
ut could not be better located to con-
serve the interests of our country on this
hemisphere, first for the protection of
our interests in the West Indies; second
for the defense of the Panama canal;
third, for the maintenance of the Mon
roe doctrine"
AS to the necessity Of the proposed
naval station at Olongapo, Philippine
islands, for which the bill carries ss623s5
Mr.. Foss says:
I'm view of our great interests in the
east, 1000 miles away from home, with a
large fleet there at all times to protect
those interests ii would seem almost
criminal negligence on the part of con-
gress not to provide a naval station where
our ships could be locked and repaired.
The rapidly developing complications OF
the whole eastern situation demands that
our navy should be made as effectual as
possible"