The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-12-01
TWO DREADNAUGHTS
FOR EACH YEAR
Recommended By Secretary Daniels of
the Navy Department-Also Eight
Destroyers and Three Sub
marines.

programme Secretary Daniels recon-
mends in his first annual report to Pres
! dent Wilson. While such programme
| is somewhat less than recommended by
the navy general board, principally be-
cause Mr.. Daniels believes it is as heavy
as the revenues of the government will
permit, he believes it is progressive
one which will meet the demand to go
forward in the continuation of an ade-
quate and well proportional navy.
Second only in interest to the secre-
tary's building programme, is an en-
dorsement of Winston ChurchilPs pro-
posed NAVAL holiday" with recon-
mendation that the United States take
the initiative and that President Wilson
ask Congress to authorize him to invite
all the powers to conference to dis
cuss the project,
Regarding his building programme,
Secretary Daniels says:
"The wise naval policy for the United
States at this time is to find the golden
mean. 1t cannot wisely By itself re-
duce the construction of dreadnaughts
or compete with other great powers in
burdening taxpayers to hasten the con-
struction of navy larger than our con-
ditions demand. The estimates of the
navy department show decrease in the
ordinary expenditures. The program of
the department may be summed up in
the phrase: More money afoat and less
ashore / therefore recommend the au-
thorization by the present Congress OF
the following building program:
1.-TWO dreadnaughts
Eight destroyers.
"Three submarines.
"This is not, it will be observed,
large program, but it is progressive
one. 1t meets the demand to go forward
in the continuation Of an adequate and
well-proportioned navy We have now
under construction six battleships of the
largest and most approved type.
With the authorization of two Of
the largest battleships ever constructed,
before the close of the present admin
istration, the United States viii have
enough ships to have always a creditable
and capable fleet in both the Pacific and
the Atlantic oceans. These, together
with the smaller ships under construc
ton, will make the American navy one
OF strength and power, ready for the
protection of American shores and Amer
lean interests. A steady building pro-
gram of advancement from year to year
will be necessary to give us an adequate
navy the goal of American needs and
desires.
"If the present Congress authorizes
the two dreadnaughts, eight destroyers,
and three submarines recommended, the
country will have 4 'well-proportioned
navy, and future additions can be made
year BY year, to add to the effectiveness
Of the fleet or fleets. Those who bid us
stand still in construction will not APP
prove this conservative program. Those
who wish to hasten more rapidly in con-
struction viii not give it their approval.
1t has been recommended, after ma
ture consideration, as a middle course of
wisdom.
at is a condition and not theory
that confronts us The revenues of
the country do not permit as large an
expansion in naval building as the de-
partment might desire to enter upon at
this time. In its recommendations it
has kept in view the probable revenues
and other demands and placed the new
at the very lowest program
that could meet the needs of the coun-
try or carry out the pledges made to
the voters.
at is not believed it is dealing honest
" with Congress to make large esti-
mates in the expectation that the ma
tional legislators will use the pruning
knife / have reduced the building pro-
posed by the general board not because
Of opposition to the progressive plans of |
that able body of naval statesmen, but |
because it is deemed wise to suggest a /
budget that will be within the resources |
Of our government 1t is the duty of |
the naval expeEss to make such recon- |
as their experience and |
dictates. II is the duty of the |
head of the department to urge only |
such appropriations as it is believed Con-
gress can grant within the limits of its |
income. That has been the
motive in all the recon-
which are confirmed in the
estimates for the navy department.
"The building program recommended
1y the general board contemplated con-
,truction of four battleships, Is destroy
RS and one destroyer tender; eight sub
marines and one tender; two oilers, two
gunboats, one transport, one supply ship
md one hospital ship"
In endorsing a naval holiday, the sec
'etary says:
"The growing cost of dreadnaughts,
If powder, and of everything that makes
IN efficient navy give reason for pause.
This heavy expense commands national
md international consideration. The
laval appropriation has doubled in Is
rears and yet this country has not
oined the expensive competition and
ace for over-large nayies to the same
xtent as have some other great nations.
Fen years ago our largest battleship \
ost S5,3S2OO0, The next dreadnaught
will cost us Sl4044000. When is this
celebrating expenditure to be reducedg
NAVAL programs, announced by the
lations already having the largest ma
les, and the entrance into the building
4 dreadnaughts by nations which have
ot hitherto burdened their people with
he expense of large battleships, indi
ates that the end is not yet. No sim
e nation, with large interests, can safe
v take vacation in the building of
,attleships. That much to be desired
acation must come through concerted
ction If it is not FASTENED by appeals
or the peaceful settlement of national
differences the day is not far distant
rhen the growing burden of taxation
or excessive war and naval expendi-
ures will call a halt
"The suggestion of vacation for one
ear in battleship building has met with
-, - nd tyauf.,ra tha oar /