The Washington herald., 1907-12-02
MILLIONS FOR SHIPS
Secretary Metcalf Asks EnOr-
nous Naval Increase
EXCEEDS BOARDS ESTIMATE
Recommendation the Largest Ever
Made by Any Secretary Of the Navy
at One Time-NatiOn's Position as
Second In Point of Efficiency Can
Thus BE Maintained.


Second In Point of Efficiency Can
/ Thus BE Maintained.
/ In his annual report to the President,
which was made public yesterday. Secre-
tary of the Navy Metcalf recommends
that Congress. at its coming session, APP
propriate sos, 10000 for the construction
Of new ships
This is the largest recommendation ever
made by any Secretary OF the Navy for
naval increase at one time. and is about
! two-thirds OF the total annual appropria-
ton for the entire naval establishment.
including construction, in the past few
years
Secretary Metcalfs recommendation is
based upon the reports of the general
board of the navy. and of the board of
construction. The general board first took
up the subject of naval increase and made
L Recommendation for an increase amount
ing to S62,OOO,OOO. This report was then
considered by the board on construction,
which raised the limit Of cost on many
/ of the vessels. aggregating $l.2lGOoO.
Follows Suggestion Of Board.
/ In general. as to the limit Of cost, Sec
retary Metcalf has followed the sugges-
tions Of the board on construction rather
than the report of the general board. His
recommendation is for the following ships;
Approximate
| Number and class unit est. Total cost.
I -Four battle ships tof the
type as the Delaware class 50 $4,000 S5o0oo0 900
/ -Four scout cruisers (of the same
typc as the Chester class). 25o0 900 100000
/ Ten dCStroyeTs (of the same type
] as those recently contracted for S50G10 s.Soe@
Tour submarines tcf the
type As those recommended as
/ the result Of the recent CON-
petitiYe tests. provided more
satisfactory type j. not deyel-
oped in the mcantimel...-..... 5000 ls0O0
One ammunition ship. ............ ls590ol l7j00O0
One repair ship---.--.-.....-..-. 20l0ooq 20oo 900
Two mine-laying ships ieonver-
/ sion and equipment for that
purpose Of two cruisers
on the navy list .-.............. s9Q3 so 0o1
-Four feet colers. I.-5o00o 7OOoO 90
Total...................................sss2o 600
In commenting upon the building pro-
gramme, Secretary Metcalf says it is true
that the United States navy at the pres
cnt time is second in efficiency. but he
declares this position cannot long be
maintained unless Congress shall authorize
additional new ships. He points out that
this nations position is largely due 10
| the fact that the sea lighting strength
| has been increased by the completion and
delivery Of several new battle ships and
/ cruisers OF the largest and most approved
| type and he adds that ii Is Of the highest
| importance that the old and obsolete
ships should be replaced BY modern vcs-
sells. He gives his approval 10 the all
big gun ship OF the Delaware type II is
four ships OF this type that he recon-
menGs in his report.
Weak in Three Places.
Mr. Metcalf shows that while the Amer
lean navy is strong in battle ships. there
are three places where H. is weak, and
where other great naval powers are out
stripping the United States in the matter
OF construction. These three defects are
found in the insufficient number Of de-
stroyers, submarines. and colliers. In re-
gard to the latter. ne declares. The navy
is, woefully deficient.
To meet these deficiencies he recon-
mends the construction Of ten destroyers.
four submarines Of the Octopus type. the
same as recommended as the result OF
competitive tests and found 10 be SUI
perior. and four fleet Golfers. II these
GOLFERS were authorized 10 be built az
government yards on the Atlantic coast
their construction would give permanent
employment he says. 70 a large force OF
efficient men.
It is understood this recommendation is
made in order 10 provide work for the
navy yards. while the Atlantic fleet is on
its long cruise TO the Pacific.
Secretary Metcalf does not recommend
that one Of the proposed Golfers be con-
structed on the Pacific for the reason
that yards there will have all the work
they can do upon the battle ships. and
furthermore for the reason that the labor
problem is a serious one. Already there
is an appropriation available foT'N the
building of a collier at the Mare Island
yard. but owing to the lack of labor its
construction has not been begun.
Rapidity OF Building.
Secretary Metcalf says there is no rea-
son why this government should not build
big ships as quickly as other nations. and
points 10 the rapldity with which the
japanese Ibuki and the English Dread
nought were turned out. He also in
cludes a brief summary Of the naval
building programmes OF the different
powers, and says:
In foreign Shipbuilding programmes OF
the current year the characteristic fea-
ture of all Is the presence of battle ships
of heavy displacement, destroyers, and
submarines, and. with the German ex-
cepted. the omission OF armored cruisers.
The speed and displacement Of battle
ships are increasing in all countries. and
there is a marked tendency toward a re-
ductiOn in the number OF calibers Of guns
composing the armament The armament
of the latest type OF battle ships is COM
posed of heavy turret guns and of smaller
guns intended for defense or against tor
pedO craft The latter moreover. are
increasing in caliber to such a degree
that in some ships of recent design they
are of the same calibers that We're used
but few years ago for the intermediate
battery
He comments upon the absence Of ar
mored cruisers in these programmes, and
il is also noted that no vessels of this
type are recommended in his report. the
reason being that the latest type Of ar
mored cruiser has practically merged into
the battle ship, so that the distinction has