Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-04-09
INCREASE NAVAL
EQUIPMENT
Navy Bill Calls for Many New
Vessels and Battleships

WASHINGTON. April s.--Among
the items OF the navy bill, which is
now being considered by congress,
are the following;
Naval training station, great lakes.
81, O95. 900; construction and maehin-
cry, $9.sS2.962; armor and arma-
ment. s77OO,oOO; equipment, $780,
600; subsurfaoe and marine boats.
$1.445,000.
An increase of $685. 600 over last
years appropriation was allowed In
stores. mainly for target practice. and
because there will be In full commits
sion during the fiscal year "a battle
ships, IL first-class cruisers, Sc sec
ond-rate and third-rate vessels, 60
torpedo vessels and Is aus lliarles,
making a total OF 1T vessels There
is an increase of $4,000 for smoke
less powder. The bill further pro-
vides an appropriation OF $4,000
for replacing the three-pounder and
six-pounder guns by three-inch So
caliber or larger guns, because OF the
increase in the effective range of the
latest type of torpedo.
These new guns are designed to
give the ships protection against
long-range torpedo destroyers, Pro-
vision is made for other changes In
tended to keep the batteries OF the
ships in the highest state of efficiency
Nine hundred and Atty thousand dol
lars is appropriated for torpedoes and
the converting of torpedo boats. The
appropriation for arming and equip
ping the naval militia is increased to
100000 In order that this branch
OF the naval reserve OF the United
States may be more effectively con
Quoted
Increase Vessel Equipment.
Equipment of vessels is increased
100000 over the current year on
account of the increased number OF
ships In commission and the necessity
of fitting with the new gun-fring APP
paratus and wireless telegraphy.
The appropriation for coal and
transportation is increased $3.50, 900.
For provision for the navy an appro-
priation is made OF $6.574,9O3.
The report accompanying the bill
states that an allowed increase OF
800, 900 in the appropriation for pro-
visions for the marine corps is due TO
the increased cost Of 16 per cent IN
the price of rations.
The reports then show that there
is IN course OF building seven battle
ships. four armored cruisers, three
scout boats. five torpedo boats. four
submarine torpedo boats. two golfers
and two seagolng tugs. The amount
necessary to be appropriated for pay
for work now progressing during the
fiscal year is S17,232.962.
Ask Two BattIeships.
Under the heading naval pro-
gram" the committee recommends
that the president be authorized TO
have constructed two first-class bat
tleships TO cost, exclusive OF armor
and armament. not exceeding So.
600. 900 each, 10 torpedo boat de-
stroyers, 10 have the highest praeti-
cable speed. and TO cost, exclusive of
armament, not TO exceed $500, 900
each that the secretary of the navy
be authorized 10 have constructed
eight submarine torpedo boats. TO
cost in the aggregate not more than
50. 500. 600. OF which amount 81 900. =
600 Is appropriated. one subsurface
7 torpedo boat at cost not to exceed
100000. and two small vessels Of
like type not TO exceed In cost a22.-
, 500 each. a total authorization OF
S23,945.0 600. which will be increased
! $1,000. 900 by the cost of arming and
equipping the two battleships.
Plans OF Powers.
The report shows that the naval
J construction program of the several
? powers eontemplates the expenditure
of the following amounts for vessels.
: as indicated. during the coming year:
England--Three battleships OF the
: Dreadnought type. one fast unar.
: mored cruiser, FIVE ocean-going de.
. stroyers. II hrst-class torpedo boats
= IL submarines. s3s.4IS.g5O.
5 Franee-Five destroyers. 10 sub
5 marines. 91s.G9e,34G.
= Germany-Two battleships, one ar
mored cruiser. two scout cruisers. IL