The Washington herald., 1912-11-13
THREE WARSHIPs
!. PROGRAMME
Secretary of Navy Meyer Has In
eluded These in Annual
Estimates.
ANOTHER SPLIT IS EXPECTED

Secretary Of the Navy Meyer has in
cluded items for three battleships of the
superdeRrnought type in his estimates
for 1914, according to information from
an authentic source, and it is possible
be will ask in addition for one battle
ship cruiser, OF the same armament as a
superdreadnought, but Of lighter armor
and greatly increased steaming radius.
Mr.. Meyer, 1t is understood, does not
expect the Democratic House to give him
more than two battleships, even though
the two-ships a year programme was
broken into last session by an appropria-
ton for only one ship. He does expect,
though, that, in view OF the widespread
unpopuIarity with which the no-battle-
ship plan was greeted throughout the
country last season, this session will
bring him two large ships. The estimates
call for the necessary auxiliary ships.
When he appears before the Committee
on Naval Affairs, Mr.. Meyer will include
an ammunition ship.
That the House this session will ap-
propriate for at least two modern battle
ships seems probable. in view OF the alb
sence Of many OF the circumstances
which were responsible for the attempt
last session to leave all battleship APP
preparations from the naval bill. This
session the hungry Democrats are to
have double rations of public building
pork, which was denied them by the
Democratic caucus last year and which
resulted in the stubborn hostility of
Representative Burnett and his follow
ing of pork barrel Democrats"
Expect Extra Support.
The small group of Eastern Democrats
who last session fought the battle of the
navy and managed to obtain one large
ship will be assured OF more liberal sup
port this year from the House leaders
who before the fight was over realized
their blunder in permitting the majority
to caucus on a question of national de-
Tense. 1t is highly improbable that the
House majority will consider the battle
ship programme in the caucus this ses-
sion. though the chairman of the naval
committee, Representative Padgett, is
himself one-battleshlp man and prob
ably would be willing to have the ma
jority bound to such a programme at the
beginning OF the session.
Majority Leader Underwood, however,
realizes that the battleship fight came
nearer to throwing a wrench into his
highly organized machinery than any
other question he had to combat, and
lie pEODaDiy VIII De Wiling TO nave this
question removed as far as possible from
partisanship this year.
Representative Fitzgerald. the fighting
New Yorker who guards the public
Treasury as chairman of the Committee
on Appropriations. doubtless will find
himself between two fires, from the fact
that the demand of his constituency is
not for economy when it involves the
sacrificing of the naval programme and
the resultant injury to the New York
Navy Yard and shipbuilding interests. II
he does not, because of his desire to cut
down Uncle Sans running expenses as
much as possible, come out openly in
favor of two ships, he will not, 1t is be- |
lieved, side openly with any smaIl-navy |
group which may be formed.
MIR. Underwood personally would not
be averse to one-battleship programme, |
but Mr.. Underwood will not espouse such |
a programme until he can be fairly GER
tain that 1t is destined to win out
Whereas last year the fight was really
for one battleship, with the chances
favOring none, this year the fight will
be for three ships. with the chances
favOring two.