The Washington herald., 1908-04-09
WANTS -FOUR SHIPS
President Not Pleased by
Navy A Appropriation Bill.
PLANS A SPECIAL MESSAGE
Communication to Congress Ex-
Dected Before Navy Budget Il Dis
posed of by House-Report Com
Rares Naval Increase of Foreign
Powers, with Reference TO Japan.

If President Roosevelt carries out hi.
present intentions. he will send messag,
to Congress IN the immediate future urg
ling that an amendment be incorporated
in the naval appropriation bill. authoriz
ing the construction OF four battle ships
This became know yesterday. coincident
with the action of the Committee OF
Naval Affairs in reporting to the House
the great supply bill. carrying funds tC
maintain the naval establishment IN tbs
| fiscal year 1909.
The President is not only displeased be-
cause the House committee authorized
but two battle ships, but also because
funds are not made Immediately available
for their construction.
President Roosevelt wants four battl,
ships, and he is insistent that the naval
bill shall carry a sufficient amount to en-
able the government 10 begin the work OF
| construction on them at once If the
| President sends a message to Congress
on the subject. il will come in without
any delay. as under the rules adopted by
the House majority. the naval bin will
be taken up to-day and passed. under the
whip and spur. not later than next Wed
nesday.
President Is in Earnest.
The President is much in earnest in his
wish that four battle ships shall be au-
thorized. and unless otherwise persuaded,
no doubt is expressed that his threat
ened message VIII be sent 10 Congress
just before the House takes up that sec
tion Of the naval bin dealing with ships
OF war
The naval bill. reported yesterday. pro-
vides an appropriation aggregating sl03.-
976,5lS. as compared with $l00,3o COZ In the
last naval bill The Secretary of the
Navy in his estimates to Congress asked
for appropriations approximating a25,-
0il,349 The House committee, after care
ful consideration Of Secretary Metcalfs
estimates. made deductions to the amount
OF more than $22.O00,000.
In addition to the two battle ships. ap-
propriations TO defray the cost of their
construction to be made later. the naval
bill authorizes the purchase Of ten tor
pedo-boat destroyers. eight submarine
torpedo boats. and one torpedo boat of
the surface type. These authorizations
involve an ultimate expenditure Of s2s,-
945,oo9r divided as follows: For battle
ships, sl2,0o0,000, for tOrpedo-boat destroy
ers. 100000; for submarines. $500. 900,
and for one boat Of subsurIace type.
S445.OoO
Additional Men Provided Fer.
Six thousand additional men 10 man
ships that are in commission and are
about 10 be placed In commission are
provided for. The ships 10 be manned
during the next few months, requiring an
increase in the personnel to the extent
authorized, are: California, Mississippi.
Idaho, New Hampshire, South Dakota.
North Carolina, Montana. Chester, Birm-
ingham, and Salem.
The sum Of s272742O1 is made available
for the pay Of the navy. This is an in
crease of more than six million dollars
over the appropriations made for like
purposes In the last naval bill.
For ordnance and ordnance stores. So
7A,H2 is allowed. This is an increase OF
$4,000 A large part of this is for
target practice. During the coming
year .twenty-four battle ships, twelve
first-class cruisers, sixty-six second
and third-rate vessels, sixty torpedo
boats. and fifteen auxlliaries. MAX
Ing a total OF III vessels. win be IN
fun or partial commission. The commit
tee therefore deemed it advisable to
make increased appropriations for target
practice.
Watching Foreign Naval Growth.
The report on the naval bill contains
an interesting statement showing the ac-
tivity Of foreign powers in building ships
OF war This fact, aside from his lively
interest in the enlargement of the navy.
is what prompts the President to speak
his mind to Congress on the subject OF
battle ships. The report points out that
in foreign shiphuiding programmes Of the
current year the characteristic feature of
all Is the presence of battle ships OF
heavy displacement. destroyers, and sub
and, with Germany excepted, the
omission OF armored cruisers. The chap
ter devoted to Japan's proposed expendi-
lures for naval purposes reads as follows:
''The naval budget. as passed by the
Diet and approved by the Emperor, car
ries appropriations amounting to s17, ,s65, ,7ss
for the construction and repair OF ships.
This includes the cost OF repairs to ships
In commission as we'll as the restoration
Of the Russian prizes and the building of
new ships. About Sl2.500, 900 of the whole
amount viii be devoted TO increasing the
navy, the restoration of Russian prizes,
and new construction. Il is generally
understood that Japan will, In the near
future. lay down two battle ships OF the
most powerful type and displacement,
and several torpedo-boat destroyers and
TWO submarines are now
building for Japan in England A third
battle ship Is also included in the jap
anese shipbuilding scheme. and It has
been recently reported that a large battle
ship has been contracted for in Great
Britain for the japanese government, but |
this report appears not to be made with |
authority If true"
Navy Pay Not Increased.
Much regret was expressed In navy
circles yesterday. particularly by mem |
bers Of the pay corps. who have been
anxious that the proposed increased pay
for the navy should be incorporated IN |
the appropriation bin, because the bill
does not contain this item. 1t was said /
however that efforts win be redouhled
10 get the pay bills provisions placed /
upon the appropriation bin as an amend |
nent.
TAxcwr rnr, TFyrx - .na