The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-12-01
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Washington, Nov 3o-Imnediate ac-
duirement and operation of oil wells
and refineries to furnish fuel for the
navy, international conference to Sc
cure a reduction of naval construction,
the addition OF two dreadnaughts, eight
degtroyerS and three submarines for
the navy during the coming year, gov
ernment manufacture OF armor, more
naval chapIains and religious leaders,
better educational facilities for enlist
ed men and a graduated retiremen
law are chief recomme in the
first annual report Of Secretary Dan
ieis. made public today.
The secretary departs from the usual
custom in addressing the president in
the first person singular, thereby add
ing to the directness and force of the
fleets his enthusiasm over the navy,
declaring that the story of the years
work ''by this patriotic body OF eff
cient defenders of the republic is re-
pletg with examples of courage, de-
votlon, sacrifice and progress"
HIGH STATE OF FsEFFiclENcY.
The secretary says the navy was
never In such a high state of efficiency
as today and that In considering its
future needs he has given less thought
TO the guns than to the men behind
the guns. Believing that the efficiency
OF the navy as q fighting force will be
IN the highest sense promoted by the
adoption of serious and systematic
course of instruction aboard ship and
at shore stations. he points out that
Nh@s a0paH tEnezat - tFstime tu ssAgGARnH stts@s
navy 3 great university Not only
ordinary Sea1nen but even petty off,
GERS have too little accurate knowledge
and this will be corrected by a syste-
matic course OF Instruction. MidShip-
men of the graduating classes will be
utilized as instructors with mutual
benefit to the men and themselves"
and to fit them for this work a short
normal course viii be added to the
naval academy curriculum As the war
college is the apex of the navy sys-
tenn of education the department will
try to have all officers pass through
this training using mail courses where
advisable.
cHuRcHHILL's PROPOSITION.
The recent proposition of Winston
Churchhill first lord of the British
admiralty, for a naval vacation"
meets with the secretary's hearty
commendation in view of the tremen-
dous increase in American naval ex-
penditures. Pointing out that ten
$3.50, 900, while the next dreadnaught
win cost $14,044,0 900, Mr.. Daniels asks
when is this accelerating expenditure
to be reduced. He adds that 1t is mot
a vacation that we need but a perma-
nent policy to guard against extrava-
CANT expansionists." Time. he sug-
gests, should be given to shipbuilders
to guard against loss from reduction
recommends that the United, States
take the initiative and invite all the
powers to conference to discuss re-
duction of the heavy cost of armies
and the navies.
HIS BUILDING PROGRAM.
Secretary Daniels says his building
program is not large, but Is progress
sive and has been recommended las
a middle course Of wisdom" the re-
venues OF the country not permitting
as large an expansion in naval build.
ing as the department might desire to
enter upon at this time That is the
explanation for the proposed reduction
OF the building program recommended
by the general board, which contem-
plated construction OF four battleships,
sixteen destroyers 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 forgings, powder.
torpedoes and other supplies and mu-
nftionS so he recommends appropria-
tons for an arrnor plate factory and
an increase in the gun factory, the
powder factory and the torpedo works.
He refers to his efforts to secure rea-
sonable prices from the arnor compa-