The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-12-01
"Adequate Navy" Soon, He
Says. With Six Battle
ships Building.
DEWEY FAvORS 10 SHIPS
Four Drea1lnoughts Should Be
Started This Year. the
Admiral Asserts.

WAsHINoroS, Nov. 3c.-Josephus
Daniels, Secretary OF the Navy. has made
public his first annual report. one OF the
chief features Of which is the announce
nent Of his building programme for
the navy and his recommendation OF the
authorization by tho present Congress Of
the construction OF two dreadnoushts'
eight dcstroyers and three submarines. lie
admits that It will be observed that this "
not a large programme. hut says that IT
10 a progressive one" and meets the de-
mands 10 go forward in the continuation
o. ian adequate and well proportoned
navy"
MIR Daniels says that We now have un.
der construction six battleships or the
largest and most approved type and adds
with the authorization OF two OF the
largest battlcships ever constructed. be-
fore the close of the present Administra-
tion, the United States will have enough
ships to have always creditable and
capable feet 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 interests.
"a steady building programme OF All
vancement from year to year will be
necessary to give us IAN adequate navy.
the goal OF American needs and desires
Those Who Cannot De Pleased.
Those who bid us stand still as 10
construction will not approve this con-
servative programme" the Secretary con-
t.nucs Those vino wish to hsst~, ,nore
rapidly In construction will not give It
their approval.
1T has been recommended. a:;er ma
turc consideration. As "A middle course OF
wisdom. 1t is n condition ard not
theory that confronts u.s. The revenues Of
tho country do not permit so large an en-
psnsion In naval building as the Depart
mont Nigh, desire 20 enter upon at this
time
As to reduction IN armamen, the re-
port says
Il trust that this country will take the
Initiative and that steps will be taken
b. "A conference OF ALL the Powers 10 dis
cuss reduction of the heavy cost Of the
Army and navy"
Secretary Daniels SAYS that tine time
has come wher the department should
b. freed from excessive prices charged
b. private manufacturers of armor plate
guns and gun forgngs, powder. torpedoes
and other supplies and munitions and
recommends that appropriations he made
for an armor plate factory and an in
crease In the gun factory. the powder fac
tory and the torpedo works.
"rhe ability to make part Of the powder
used has effected some reduction he de-
clares. "hut the depar ilnent s still forced
{" buy too large a quantity from the
powder trust at an eyorbiiant figure"
In urging a sufficient Appropriation TO
begir III. construction Of a Government
armor plan, to relieve a situation which,
hc says 'ts mtolerabl" and At total Nar'-
snc. with the principle # economy a
spending Government money Mr.. Daniel.
saws that Il was sufficient t. mention that
only three firms In this country can manu-
facturc armor plate and that these firms
have put in bldg for armur plate seldom,
VARYING over a few dollars and in many
instances being identical to the cent
ut is evident that without an armor
plant of It's own" the Secretary adds.
"the government In time OF war or i'm
bending war would be entirely at The
mercy OF these three manufacturers AM
obliged 20 pay practically whatever prices
they asked"
Mr. Danielss report sets forth that nc
is sure we can make armor much cheaper
than we can buy II and that from an
economic point Of view alone the erection
Of a Government plant amply Justified
No ArmOr Plate secrets.
"i'ud'r our present system OF obtaining
oar arnlog plate from private companies,
he continues such Improvements become
the pinp"rty of all the world and can ba
obtained 10y anybody who cares to buy
them. Even now the improvements -
armor and designs worked out by the
navy have been embodied in the warshE
Of another nation recently finished by the
Bethlehem Steel Company and put into
commission"
Secretary Daniels also wants Congress
10 consider legislation that will enable the
Navy Department to "refine Its own Ill
from its own oil wells" and thus relieve
Itself OF the necessity OF purchasing VIVA:
seems fa.r to become the principal fue
OF the navy "at eXOrbtant and ever in
creas!ng prices from the private com
panies that now completely control the
supply"
lie says the navy Is "paying over twlca
as much for oil az It did In 1911"
Although only portion of Uncle Sans
fleet II equipped to burn oil, Mr. Daniels
says that the navy now uses 10000, 900
gallons a scar and there is every likelI.