The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-02
ASKS 4 BATTLESHIPS
APPROPRIATION SOUGHT BY
NAVY $69,27O,OOO.
Secretary Metcalf Recommends Many
Additions for U. S, Sea Fight
ing Force.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-In his annual
report to the President, which was made
public today. Secretary of the Navy Met
calf recommends that Congress appropriate
$50, 30 600 for the construction of new ships.
This is the largest appropriation ever
asked for by any Secretary of the Navy
for naval increases at one time, and Is.
about two-thirds of the total annual ap-
preparation for the entire naval establish
ment. Including construction, in the last
few years.
Secretary Metcalf's recommendation is
based on the reports of the general board
of the navy and the Board of Construc-
ton. The general board first took up tho
subject of naval Increases and made a rec
ommendation for an Increase amounting to
$62. 900, 900 This report was then consid-
cred by the Board Of Construction. which
raised the limit of cost on many of the
vessels. the increase aggregating 1870, 900,
In general, as to the limit of cost, Secre-
tary Metcalf has followed the suggestions
Of the Board Of Construction rather than
the report of the general board. His rec
ommendation Is for the following ships:
Number and class. Unit cost. t cost.
-Four battleships Of the
Delaware type......... $9,500.oO $aS,000,0O0
the Chester type. 100000 10000 600
Ten destroyers same
type as those recently
contracted for......... $4,000 $4,000
Four submarines Of the
Octopus type.....,..., $4,000 1,b20,000
One repair ship. sup. a''oSS,'SOS a,oSS.OS
Two mine laying ships
conversion and equip
ment of two cruisers
now on the list) .,..,.. 10000 100000
Four fleet colliers...,... 1,750,o00 100000
Total .................. $50. 10000
He includes In his report also a brief
summary of the naval building program
OF the different powers aud says:
I'm foreign shipbuilding programs Of the
current year the characteristic feature of
all Is the presence OF battleships of heavy
displacement, destroyers and submarines,
and with the Germa excepted, the omis-
sion Of arnored cruisers. The speed and
displacement OF battleshlps are increasing
in all countries, and there is q marked
tendency toward a reduction in the num-
her of calibres of guns composing the arm
ament. The arm iment of the latest type
OF battleships is composed of heavy turret
guns and of smaller guns intended for de-
Tense or against torpedo craft, The latter,
moreover. are increasing in calibre to such
a degree that in some ships of recent de-
sign the are of the same calibres that
were used but a few years ago for the
intermediate battery
Secretary Metcalf discusses at some
length the subject of submarine torpedo
boats. After telling of the Newport tests
to determine the efficiency of boats Off
eered In competition he quotes as follows
from the boards report:
1T is the unanimous opinion Of this
board that the Octopus is the superior boat
presented for tests; and. Furthermore, that
she Is equal to the best boat now owned
by the United States and under contract.
The board is also Of the opinion that a
boat generally similar to the Octopus but
larger. would be q superior naval weapon