New-York tribune., 1908-04-09
MAY URGE FOUR SHIPS
CONlfITTEE ALLOWS TWO.
SpeciaI Message from President on
Subject Expected.
rFrou, The Tribun. Bureau. ]

-nt,r+or Aprfl s-There is considerable likel-
..os that the President will sand to Congress
.,e.,sI report presenting in emphatic terms the
sons which he believes should actuste Congress
= snprcpriate the funds necessary to build four
=. hattIeships. The House Committee on Naval
s.,rs reported a measure merely authorizing the
-s,r,ction Of two battleshps. at cost OF seooocN
.rb which means that the department could do
,.,ls more than prepare plans this year the funds
,o he appropriated. later. This is decided disap-
,,oi-,u1ent to the President. who has never aban-
5oned his hope that Congress would ultimately
authorize four b8ttleshirs and permit contracts to
he let as soon practicable for az least two.
II is expected that il the leaders unable 10
6ssuade the President from sending In special
message. it viii arrive about the time that the
House reaches the consideration of the naval pro-
rrannle. Representative Hobson. who submitted
minority report on to-days bill. urging provision
Cor four battleships will uphold the President in
,he House. and every effort is being made to in
duce favorable attitude in the Senate. although
the speech made by Senator Hale yesterday does
rot offer great encourag cement.
The naval appropriation bill. carrying a total ap-
preparation of Sl0396 5lG for the naval service for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1909 reported by
Chairman FoSs OF tjls Committee Naval At
fairs The total appropriation recommended is
s25ls.S3i less than the aggregate estimates sub
ntted by the department, and $685. ,916 than
the amount appropriated for the fiscal year ending
June 81. 1908. The bill carries an item of s1OO0OOO
boats and item of s44500O toward the construc-
ZION Of subsurface torpedo boats. Provision is
made for the enlistment Of six thousand to
man the following ships. which to he put in
commission within the next few months The Cali
,ornia. the Mississippi. the Idaho the New Hamp-
shire, the South Dakota the North Carolina, the
Montana, the Chester. the Birmingham and the
salem and for 15oO men required TO man torpedo
bosts not now I'm commission. There will be III
vessels in commission during the fiscal year.
An increase of $4,000 over last years approrria-
ton was allowed in the appropriation for ord
nance and ordnance stores. and there is an In
crease OF S15o.ooO for srnokeess powder The bill
further provides appropriation of S415 Ooo for
rgcing the 3-pounder and 6-pounder guns by 5-inch
EAcslibre or larger guns. Among the items are the
following: Naval training station. Great Lakes,
$50; construction end machinery. So, ,S32 9e2;
srror and armament. 100000: equipment, s4oo-
or sor surface and submarine boats s1,A5,ooo.
The appropriation for coal and transportation is
increased SS50.000 For provisions for the navy
appropriation is made Of ss547,soS.
The report shows that the4e are IN oours. of
building seven battleshps, four arrored cruisers
three cruisers. hve torpedo boat destroyers.
fou- submarine torpedo boats, two coliers and
Two seasoing tugs. The amount necessary TO be
spp-op-tated 70 paw for the work now progressing
and contracted for in the next fiscal year is
u75Z e5o
rnittee recommends that the President be author
ized have constructed two first class battle
shpg 70 cost, exclusive Of srnor and armament.
not exceeding 100000 each. ten torpedo boat de-
st-oyers have the highest practicable speed and
70 cost exclusive OF armament, to exceed 800,
90 each: that the Secretary OF the Navy be
thorized 70 have constructed eight submarine tor
psdo boats 70 cost in the aggregate not than
rgOeoo Of which amount s. 900 IS appropriated.
srd one subsurface torpedo boat at cost not TO
exceed 500 90 and small vessels Of like type
not 10 exceed in so so each-a total authorize
ton Of SO $4,000 which will he increased 100000
by the cost OF aruling and equipping the two bat
tieships
The report shows that the naval construction pro-
eranmes Of the several foreign powers contemplate
tle expenditure OF the following amounts for YES
sels as indicated during the coming fiscal year:
EneIard-Three battleships Of the Dreadnought
type. one fast unarmored cruiser. five oceangong
destroyers, twelve first class torpedo poe1s anu
twelve submarines; s39,4lS $50.
Frauce-Five destroyers and ten submarines;
slE ST 346.
Serrany-Two battleshps, ore arnored cruiser
,ro scout cruisers twelve destroyers and several
submarines; $3o,575Seo
Japan-For con~truction and repair, s17s65.793 in
cluding the restoration Of Russian warships taken
prizes
Russla-For construction and repair. si5,ooo,co
BrazI-Th-ee battleships, two scout cruisers
eighteen torpedo boats and destroyers.
The relative positions Of the several powers in
naval strength is shown to be as follows:
Ships built-Great Britain. United States France,
Germany. japan. Russia, italy and Austria.
Ships built and building-Great Britain, France
United States, Germany, Japan, Russia, Italy and
Austria.