The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-14

"HE testimony of Secretary Daniels
before the House committee on
naval affairs has in some meas
ure anticipated his annual report now
published. The country learned from
his testimony that if the revenues per-
mitted the outlay he would be in ia
vor of authorizing four new battle
ships this year" In his report Mr.. Dan
iels asks for the construction of two
battleships Congress is the judge of
what the revenues permit, and if the
secretary approved of the general
boards recommendation of four new
battleships ne might have said so and
left the size of the appropriation to
Congress. In addition to two dread
naughts he asks for six destroyers,
eight submarines, one gunboat and one
oiler, the last an indispensable type of
vessel as auxiliary to American battle
ships of the future, like the Wojected
California. Idaho and Mississippi (this
years construction), which are TO use
oil exclusively for fuel.
German successes in the North sea
have made an impression upon the
secretarys advisers for he. suggests a
liberal provision for new submarines
without reducing the appropriations
for other craft" Congress should heed
the advice. The number of submarines
recommended might be doubled profit
ably, If the department is ready to
give more attention to the training of
torpedo experts. Almost as essential
to the effectiveness of the navy in ac-
ton as modern seagoing submarines is
an adequate aerop1ane flotilla, if such
term can be used of air craft. We
are glad to see that Mr.. Daniels UNI
| war machines, and comes out for their
steady increase on large scale"
The secretary's policy of having all
things the navy uses, from "a super
dreadnaught to gallon of paint"
made by the department is theoret-
| icaily sound, but 1t may be carried too
| far. for private manufacturers often
sell their products cheaper when COM
peting with one another. Where there
is no competition, but an agreement to
| make a price to the government, that
| is to say when a monopoly exists, the
| government is driven to supply its
own wants Mr.. Daniels says that II
saved $397,53G.16 by making It's own
powder last year. and that $1,000 was
saved in the manufacture of each tor
pedo at the Newport plant. 1t should
continue to make it's own supplies II
such results are regularly Obtained,
and not a flash in the pan, so to speak.
/ II ricin IN
the best workmanship will be required
to prevent waste of material ana loss
| of time We are sceptical about the
uniform success of the government in
turning out articles cheaper than COM
peting private manufacturers If COM
| binations to hold up the government
cannot be prevented when the ques-
/ ton Is one of securing armor plate for
ships building or coal and oil for
the engine room, then, of course, there
Is no argument: the government must
have it's own armor plate plant and it's
own refineries If not its own oil lands
The matter is one for the considera-
ton of Congress.
Mr.. Daniels has evidently been con-
sulting with Admiral Victor Blue about
| TIC SedS dliou VI promotion TO the
higher grades in the navy, and it is
welcome news that the department has
appointed board to propose remedial
Il legislation to Congress. A subject OF
hardly less Importance is the organiza-
} ton of naval reserve from the hon
orably discharged enlisted men, A
plan, it seems, is soon to be submitted
to Congress. Without such a reserve