Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-01
Government Ownership Of
Armor Plate Factories Among
His Recommendations.
OPERATION OF OIL WELLS,
TO SUPPLY FUEL, DESIRED
Secretary Asks for Two Dread.
noughts, Eight Destroyers and l
Eight Submarine Vessels.

Recommendations for the construction
of two -dreadnoughs. eight destroyers and
three submarines; the government man
ufacture of arrnor plate: the immediate
requirement and operation of oil wells
and refineries for the benefit of the navy;
the increase of educational facilities for
the enlisted men: an international con-
ference to secure a reduction of naval
construction; large increase in the num-
Der of naval chaplains and religious lead
ers, and a graduated retirement law are
the salient features of the first annual
report of Josephus Daniels. Secretary of
the Navy.
The Secretary is enthusiastic about the
navy. declaring that the story of the
years work by this patriotic body of
efficient defenders of the republic is re-
plete with examples OF courage. devotion,
sacrifice and progress" He says the
navy was never in such a high state OF
efficiency as il is today, and in consider
ing its future needs he has given less
thought TO the guns than TO the men
behind the guns.
Navy a Great University.
Believing that the efficiency of the navy
as fighting force will be in the highest
sense promoted by the adoption of a
serious and systematic course OF instruc-
ton aboard ship at shore stations.
the department is trying to make the
navy a great university. Not only ordi-
nary seamen but even petty officers have
too little accurate knowledge, and. this
will be corrected by systematic course
OF instruction. Midshiprnen of the grad
uating classes will be utilized as instruct
ors with mutual benefit to the men and
themselves. and to fit them for this work
q oh al y.-f1 10 10
the Naval Academy curriculum. AS the
Naval War College at Newport r. l., is
the apex of the navy system of education
the department will try to have all off,
GERS pass through that training, using
mall courses where advisable.
The Winston Churchill proposition for a
naval vacation meets with hearty COM
mendation from Secretary Daniels, in
view of the tremendous increase in our
naval expenditures. Ten years ago our
largest battleship cost $3.50 900; the next
dreadnought will cost S1i.044, OCO Secre-
tary Daniels asks when Is this aceelerat-
ing expenditure to be reduced and de-
clarss that il is not a vacation that we
need. but permanent policy to guard
against extravaSant expansionists Time
should be given to shipbuilders TO guard
against loss from a reduction of the
building program. and Secretary Daniels
would have the United States take the
initiative and invite all the powers to a
heavy cost of the army and navy
Building Program Discussed.
His building program. he saws. is not
large. but is progressive, and has been
recommended "as a middle course of
wisdom, as the revenues of the country
do not permit as large an expansion in
naval building as the department might
tn. tar y 81
the explanation for the Secretary's re-
duction Of the building program of the
general board. which contemplated con-
struction of four battleships., sixteen de-
stroyers and one destroyer tender; eight
submarines and one tender. two oilers
two gunboats. one transport, one supply
ship and one hospital ship.
The Secretary thinks that the time has
come when the department should be
freed from excessive prices charged by
private manufacturers of armor plate
guns and gun forg.ngs, powder torpe-
does and other supplies and munitions
lie recommends appropriations for an
armor pate factory. and an increase in
the gun factory. the powder factory and
the torpedo works. He refers to his eff
forts TO obtain what he regards as rea.
sonable prices from the armor com
panies and asserts, that without its owl
plant the government would be at thu
mercy of three manufacturers in tim.
of war. He asserts that history doe
not warrant an assumption that tn
patriotism OF these companies will prov
superior To their desire for profits mas
much as during the time that war wit
Spain was imminent they refused L
accept the price fixed by Congress, an,
declined 10 manufacture any armor unit
they got their own price of 500 NOR
a ton than Congress had determined OF
He refers To contracts made by theS
companies 10 supply foreign govern
ments with arrnor at prices much be
low those charged the United State
government at present supplying armo
for the Japanese cruiser Haruna a
$406.35 a ton, while charging SJO4 TO Si1
ton for arTnor for battleship 80 j
this country.
Oil Fuel for NAVY.