Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-02
HUGE SUN FOR navy
Secretary Metcalf in Annual
Report Asks Appropriation
Of $69,27O,OOO
FOUR BATTLESHlPS NEEDED
Nation Must Have Many New Graft to
Maintain Its Position-other Lead
ing Powers Active in Increasing
Their Naval Footine-orieinal Es-
Inmates Reduced.

Inmates Reduced.
Washington. Dec "A recomen.
dalton that congress authorize, at Its
session which opens today, the con-
strllction of vessels for the navy to
cost the huge sum of 1853, 270, 900 is con-
tanned in the annual report of Secre-
tarv of the Navy Metcalf just present
ed to President Roosevelt.
Secretary Metcalf points out that
wrflle the united States navy at the
pre- sent time Is second in efficiency
this position Is largely due to the fact
that during the last fiscal year our
sea. strength and fighting efficiency
have been increased by the compile
ton and delivery of number of new
battleships and cruisers of the largest
and most approved type.
I'VE will not maintain this position
very long" he continues, unless con-
| grass shall authorize the building OF
additional ships 1t Is of the highest
| Importance that old and practically
obsolete ships be replaced by ships of
| the newest type. IL is pretty generally
conceded that the battle ship Is the
| fighting machine, and it is also pretty
| generally conceded that the most effec-
tive battle ship is the all big gun ship
of the Delaware type. AS compared
with other naval powers, we are def
cient in destroyers and submarines,
and are also woefully deficient in col
| liers."
| Included in his recommendation for
| increasing the power Of the navy are
four new battle ships of the Delaware
c.ass, to cost approximately $9,5O0,000
each. or total of $3S 00O, 900. Other
vessels which he declares should be
! built are:
| Vessel Cost.
Four scout cruisers. ...... $40 900. 900
Ten destroyers ............ 100000
Four submarines ........... 100000
One ammunition ship ...... 1.75O,000
One repair ship ... 80. 1000, 900
Two mine-laying ships go. 100000
Four fleet GOLFERS .... 100000
The estimates under the bureau Of
ordnance for the fiscal year 1909, he
declares, exceed the amount appro-
priatedfor the current year by $6,900,-
$50. This increase. according to Secre-
tary Metcaf, is chiefly due to the
tonnage recently added to the navy,
replacing obsolete ordnance outfits
Of vessels that have been some time
IN the service. supplying vessels of
various classes with efficient torpe-
does and other reasons. The estimates
for the bureau of equipment for 1909
aggregate s10,674.79S. The appropria-
ton for the current year was $8.054,-
063, making net increase of $780,
$50. One cause for making this in
crease necessary, 1t is declared, is the
development of wireless biography,
which has reached the stage where
the annual expenditures amount to ap-
proximately 100000.
Estimate Reduced.
The original estimates under the
cognizance of the bureau of yards.
says the report. as submitted by the
various navy yards and naval stations,
amounted to $45,734,250.73. This was
reduced by the chief of the bureau Of
yards and docks to $25,412,S16.70, and
still further by the department to
s13, 1855, 26O.70. AS the estimate now
stands, there is an increase of s9,531,-
$3.50 over the amount appropriated
for the current fiscal year, which pro-
vides for many desirable and much
III r,,fo n ct
the various navy yards and naval sta
tions
Stress is placed by Secretary Met
calf upon the unusually large loss of
competent clerks in the navy depart
ment and It's subordinate branches.
This is due, he declares, to the oppor-
tunities for more desirable private
employment and better chances for
advancement in other executive de-
partments. At the New York navy
yard, says the secretary, 80 per cent
of the force receive less than $1,000
per annum. and but rs out of 235
clerks receive $1,000 or more per year.
A request is made for an increase in
pay for certain clerical employees.
In the matter Of sea strength of the
various naval powers up to Nov.
last, the report places England in the
lead, with France second, the United
States third and Germany. Japan.
Russo, Italy and Australia following
in respective order AS for war ship
tonnage, Secretary Metcalf declares
that at present Great Britain is first,
with the United States second and
France Germany, Japan, Russia, Italy
and Austria following in consecutive
positions. Were vessels under con-
struction now complete, he declares,
Great Britain would still be in the
lead. but France would move up to
second place and the United States
forced into third place.
Other Powers Active.
Amounts set apart for new naval
construction by some of the other big
naval powers for the coming fiscal
year are given in the report as fol-
lows:
England .... $39, 4lo6oO
Germany 90. .............. 5o,5io,SbV
Japan 10000, $50
Since the last previous report of the
department nine battle ships, two
armored cruisers and two protected