The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-30
TWO bATTLESH|PS
URGED BY DANIELS
Secretary Says President Wilson
Approves Naval Increase
Program.
HOLIDAY PLAN is UNWISE
Chairman Of House Indicates
Favorable Action on Recon-
mendations.
Especial to The rimes-Dispatch.l ]

Especial to The Times-Dispatchl
Washington, January 2o.---Socre-
tary Daniels. OF the Navy Department,
announced to the House Naval Affairs
Committee to-day that President VIII
son was supporting strongly additional
naval construction to strengthen the
American Navy.
al recommend TO the committee and
to Congress" said MIR. Daniels. "au-
thorization for the construction of at
least two battlcships Of the first class,
eight torpedo boats and three subIna :
rine destroycrs. This is tho smallest
program that should be considered by
tho committee. even under the most
economic legislative plan.
F.. Il am authorized by President Will
son to tell the committee that he ap-
proves this naval increase program. I
conferred with him before coming to
the committee, and am speaking the
last word"
Chairman Padgett. OF the committee.
indicated that tho committee will APP
prove tho Administrations navy pro-
gram. Southern House members are
leaning to -battleship program
for the coming year because of re-
peated threats from guardians of the
Treasury that the tariff and other rev.
cnues Of the government may not be
sufficient TO meet running expenses.
sccrctnry's Recommendations.
secretary Daniels recommended:
Continued battleship construction,
at least two now ones during the pres
ent year, with consistent continuation
OF the program for increase; eight
torpedo boats and three submarine
boats as auxiliaries to the two battle
ships; an additional number OF auXil-
iaries to be authorized with an In
creased number OF battlcahips
Adequate increase in the number
OF steel colliers TO supply the demands
of the navy fleet.
Government owned powder plants
of larger capacity; torpedo factories:
armament and armor plato plants. I'M
less there shall be genuine competition
and n reduction In price among the
private steel manufacturing concerns
OF the country.
NO naval construction holiday for
one year, bat action by Congress invit-
Ing naval powers TO complete cessation
OF naval war construction.
Continuation of yearly construction
or battleships by this country 10 main
tain naval equilibrium with other
naval powers and maintenance of an
adequate navy.
Holiday Plan Unwlse,
Unless ut least two great naval
plan he said, 1T would be unwise for
the United States to stop battleship
building. Such powers have not
agreed, and the country should go
ahead with strengthening of it's navy.
Under the circumstances, L do not
approve OF the naval holiday plan, ]
think ii would be better for Congress
to pass resolution expressing its de-
sire mat Their. shall be no naval con-
struction ut all. The administration
and viii do everything In our power
TO bring about International peace
through arbitration, but until that has
been agreed to- this country must go
ahead with its defenses"
Defending his policy of inviting for
eiGn blds for American battleship ma
terial and shells. Secretary Daniels
said that he had saved the government
last year, because OF this policy, over
100000.
i have proven TO my satisfaction"
he explains, that there exists among
American manufacturers or this char
acter of supplies some kind of agree.
ment under which they submit prac-
tcally the same prices. Unless there
be real competition. am urging that
the government make it's own mate
rial"
secretary Daniels Tomorrow will ey
plain to the committee his recommcn
dauons for improvements to navy
yards and the necessity for providing
two great dry docks for the navy. one
on the Atlantic and the other on the
Pacihc Coast. The cost OF these dry
docks will exceed sI,0OO,000