The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1913-12-03
ASKS FOR TWO
DREADN0UCHTS
Secretary Daniels Submits First
Report 10 President
NAVAL PROGRAM IS REDUCED
Uncle Sam Won't Be Rich Enough to
Go Too Far, Secretary Declares.
Naval Holiday Idea Is lndorsed.

Uncle Sam Won't Be Rich Enough to
Go Too Far, Secretary Declares.
Naval Holiday Idea Is lndorsed.
In his first annual report to the
president Secretary of the Navy Dan
iels recommends navy building pro-
gram considerably less than that
recommended by the navy general
board.
Two dreadnoughts, eight destroyers
and three submarines is as much as
Uncle Sans pocketbook will stand ac-
cording to the present estimate OF
revenues, according to the secretary.
Despite this curtailment the naval Sec
retary believes the program he recon-
mends is a progressive one.
Regarding his building program Sec
retary Daniels says in part:
with the authorization of two OF
the largest battleships ever construct
ed, before the close of the present
administration, the United States will
have enough ships to have always a
credtable and capable fleet in both
the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans.
These, 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 in
terests.
"Those who bid us stand still in
construction will not approve this con-
servative program. Those who wish
to hasten more rapidly in construction
will not give it their approval. 1t has
| been recommended, after mature con-
sideration, as a middle course of wis
| DOM"
Second only in interest to the sec
retary's building program is an in
dorsement of Winston Churchill's pro-
posed naval holiday with recon-
mendation that the. United States
take the initiative arid that President
Wilson ask congress to authorize him
to invite all the powers to a confer
ence to discuss the project.
In indorsing naval holiday the
secretary says:
"The growing cost of dreadnoughts,
of powder and of everything that
makes an efficient navy give reason
| for pause. This heavy expense COM
mands national and international con-
sideration. The naval appropriation
has doubled in thirteen years and yet
this country has not joined the ex-
pensive competition and race for over
large navies to the same extent as
| have some other great nations,
81 venture to recommend that the
war and naval officials and other rep
resentatives of all the nations be in
vited to hold a conference to discuss
whether they cannot agree upon
plan for lessening the cost Of prepara-
tion for war.
81 trust the tentative suggestion for
naval holiday by the strongest OF
the powers will be debated and the
matter seriously considered by an in
ternational conference looking to re-
duction of the ambitious and costly
plans for navy increase. | trust that
this country will take the initiative
and that steps will be taken by
conference of all the powers to dis
cuss reduction of the heavy cost OF
the army and navy"
Immediate requirement and opera
tion of oil wells and refneries to fur
nish fuel for the navy, government
manufacture of armor, more naval
chaplains, better educational facilities
for enlisted men and graduated re-
tirement law are the other chief
recommendations.
The secretary thinks that the time
has come when the navy should be
freed from excessive prices charged
by private manufacturers OF armor
plate, guns and gun forgings, powder,
torpedoes and other supplies and
munitions, so he recommends appro-
priations for an armor plate factory
and an increase in the gun factory,
the powder factory and torpedo works.