Evening journal., 1913-12-01


of American needs and desiresr
Calling his recommendation the
middle course OF wisdom" the Sec
retary continues
Il have reduced the building pro-
posed by the General Board not be-
cause Of opposition to the progressive
plans OF that able body Of naval
statesmen, but because il Is deemed
wise 70 suggest a budget that will
be within the resources OF our Gov
lernment"
Fayors "Nayal Holiday"
In indorsing naval holiday the
Secretary says:
The growing cost Of Dreadnoughts,
of power and of everything that
makes an efficient navy gives reason
for pause. This heavy expense com
mands national and international con
sideration The naval appropriation
has doubled in thirteen years Ten
years ago our largest battlcship cost
So,5oz,OoO. The next Drcadnought will
cost S14,044.0 600. When is this acceler-
aNng expenditure to be reduced?
Naval programs, announced by the
nations already having the largest
lnayies, and the entrance into the
building of Dreadnoughts by nations
which have not hitherto burdened
their people with the expense Of large
battleships, indicate that the end Is
not yet
mo single nation, with large interests.
can safely take q vacation in the build
ilng OF battleships. That much TO be de-
sired vacation must come through con-
certed action. II IL is not FASTENED by
appeals Tor the peaceful settlement OF
national differences the day is not far
distant when the growing burden Of tax
ation Tor excessive war and naval ex-
penditures will cglt a halt
Il venture TO recommend that the war
land navy officials and other representa-
ltives OF al the nations be invited to hold
Ia conference to discuss whether they
lcannot agree upon a plan for lcsseninc
the cost of preparation for war ! rec.
commend thst this country take the in
itiativer
Immediate requirement and operation
of oil wells and refinerics to furnish
fuel fer the navy, government manuiac.
turc OF armOr. more naval ehaplans
better educational facilities for enlisted
men and a graduated retirement Law arc
the other chief recommendations.
The secretary says the time has come
when the Navy should be freed from
what he believes are excessive prices
charged by private manufacturers ol
armor plate, guns and gun forgings
powder. torpedoes and other supplies
and munitions. so he recommends ap.
preparations for an armor plate fac.
tory and an increase in the gun fac
, tory, the powder factory and the tor.
pedo Works.
The report comments upon con
tracts made by tho companies {,
, supply foreign navies with armor a
prices much below those charged
? their own Government. and direct
= particular attention to the fact tha
they at present supply armor for IN
Japanese cruiser Haruna al S406.35
ton while charging 1904 10 S440 to
for armor for the American battleshi
= No. IS.
The report declares that too muc
y money has been spent. ashore fC
buildings and too little for docks an
warships.
Dewey Urges Bigger Navy.
Admiral Dcwey's views of the nayi
j, program the United States shoul
a adopt are transmitted TO Presider
Wilson with the report Of Secretar
Daniels The Admiral's views, whic
2 embody the recommendation Of th
Navy General Board. are that the flee
4 should consist OF forty-eight battle
4 ships Of the line before 1920 and tina
d fhe building program should begi
I this year with four Dreadnoughts
n sixteen destroyers, eight submarine
o and minor craft