Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1914-01-31
DANIELS FORCED TO
ASK A BIGGER NAVY
FavOrs Building suspension, But
Other Nations Actions Com
pei Enlarging.
PLAN ENDORSED BY WILSON.
Tells Navel Committee He Will
Sussest International Agreement.

Secretary of the Navy Daniels told
the House Committee on Naval At
fairs that President Wilson approves
the recommendation for the two bat
tleship addition to the fleet recently
recomme nded by the head of the ma
val establishme at
Mr.. Daniels said that appropria-
tions for the navy should not be made
a partisan question. He expressed
himself as favorable to a suspension
in the building Of ornaments, but as
serted that this country could not EN-
bark on such a policy in the absence
of like action by the other Powers.
Secretary Daniel insisted that Il was
the duty OF this Government TO make
additions to the navy as long as a
progressive policy Of expansion was
followed by other nations.
The Seer stary intimated that he
would be glad to see Congress take
the lead in proposing an interna-
tionsl agreement looking to cessa-
tion in the building of ships and ether
ornaments. He said that as a result
of the plan of competitive bidding the
Department had saved about a mil
lion dollars on contracts awarded or
projectiles. He gave il as his opin-
ion that the price of armor plate is
maintained by agreement and strong
ly urged that Congress authorize the
building of a Government armOr
plant. He added that the Govern
ment should equip itself so that it
would be able in time of trouble to
manufacture all munitions Of war.
The Secretary said that the build
ing programme submitted calling for
two battleships, eight dtstrOyers and
three submarines was conservative
and he expressed the hope that the
additions would be granted. Repre-
sentative Britten, of Illinois, a
Democrat, asked if the programme
had the approval of the President.
Mr.. Daniels replied in the affirma-
tive. He SAID that he found himself
unable to agree with the General
Navy Board that four battleships
should be authorized because he be-
lieved that some measures of econ
omy had to be adopted and that the
Navy Department should be willing
to make some SACRIFICES.
Representative Hensley, of Mis-
souri,. Democrat. reminded Secre-
tsry Daniels that the Democratic
caucus year ago had gone on record
in favor of one battleship year in
stead of two. The Secretary replied
that if the party caucus had so de-
creed blunder had been made, as
the navy should not be made the sub
ject of partisan discussion.
Mr.. Hensley, author OF the naval
holiday" resolution, passed several
weeks ago, recalled the action of the
House on that measure. Secretary
Daniels replied that he favored the
principle, but inquiry had convinced
him that the Powers could not be in
d iced to suspend armament building
for year as proposed by Winston
Churchill, the British First Lord of
the Admiralty.
Secretary Daniels said that later
he would suggest a resolution by
Congress whereby the question of an
international agreement to suspend
building ornaments might be propos-
ed to all the Powers through diplo-
matte channels. Il consider il my
duty as Secretary of the Navy to do
all that | can to bring about such an
agreement" said Mr.. Daniels
However, as long as other countrie
continue to build battleships we must
be alert to maiutaiu an efficient navy
IF our own