The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-12-02
Secretary of Navy Daniels
issues First Report.
tAvORS BIG BUILDING PROGRAM
Recommends Construction OF Ten
Dreadnoughts, Eight Dcstroyers and
Three Submarines - Comments
on the Reduction of Arma-
mont For Army and Navy.

Washington, Dec. 1.-Josephus Dan
iels, secretary Of the navy, has made
public his first annual report, one of
the chief features of which Is the an
nouncement Of his building program"
for the navy and his recommendation
of the authorization by the present
congress of the construction of two
Dreadnoughts, eight destroyers and
three submarines. He admits that 1t
will be observed that this Is not a
large program, but says that ut is a
progressive one" and meets the de-
mands to go forward in the continua-
ton of ian adequate and well proper.
toned navy"
Mr. Daniels says that we now have
under construction six battleships Of
the largest and most approved type
and adds
with the authorization Of. two Of
the largest battleships ever construct
ed before the close of the present ad-
ministrat ton, the United States will
have enough ships to have always a
creditable and capable fleet In both the
dNlhN anu lhC hJldlIlN ONCuho. lhtSS,
together with the smaller ships under
construction, will make the American
navy one of strength and power, ready
for the protection Of American shores
and American interests.
"a steady building program Of ad-
vancement from year to year will be
necessary to give us AN adequate
navy the goal of American needs and
desires.
Those Who Can't Be Pleased.
"Those who bid against us stand still
as to construction and will not approve
this conservative program" the secre-
tary continues. 'Those who. wish to
hasten more rapidly in construction
will not give 1t their approval.
1T has been recommended, after
mature consideration. as middle
course of wisdom. 1t Is a condition
and not theory that confronts us
The revenues of the country do not
permit so large an expansion in naval
building as the department might de-
sire to enter upon at this time"
AS to the reduction in armament the
report says:
II trust that this country will take
the initiative and that steps will be
taken by conference of all the pow
ers to discuss reduction of the heavy
cost of the army and navy"
Secretary Daniels says that "the
time has como 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 munitions" and recommends that
appropriations be made for an armor
plate factory, the powder factory and
the torpedo works.
''The ability to make part of the
powder used has effected some reduc-
tion," he declares, "but the depart
ment is still forced to buy too large a
quantity from the powder trust at an
eXorbitant figure"
In urging a sufficient appropriation
to begin the construction of govern
ment armor plant to relieve a situation
which, he says, sis intolerable and at
total variance with the principle of
economy in spending government
money" Mr.. Daniels says that it was
sufficient to mention that only three
firms in this country can manufacture
armor plate land that these firms have
put in bids for armor plate seldom
varying over few dollars and In many
instances being identical to the cent. y
at is evident that without an armor
plant of it's own" the secretary adds
"the government in time of war or i'm
pending war would be entirely at the
mercy of these three manufacturers
and obliged to pay practically what
ever prices they asked"