The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-12
Secretary of the Navy Sub- mits Annual Report to
 President Wilson
SUBMARINE NOT
 OVER IMPORTANT
Recent Successes Fail to Change General Naval Plans-Military Aviation Development
 Is Urged
SECRETARY DANIELS

Washington. December 1f.--stratIina
 successes of submarines in the Eurc-
 pcan war have not swayed United
 states navy officials from their beIief
 that alI-big-sun battIcships of tho
 drcadnaught type form the main dc-
 pendcnce of any sea power. The con-
 struction of two such ships next year
 was recommended by Secretary Dnn-
 ieIs in his annual report submitted to-
 day to President Wilson. The navy
 general board urged the building of four.
 The complete building programme for the coming year recommended by secre- tary Daniels comprises:
 Two dreadnaughts. six destroyers, eight or moro submarines, one to be large. sea-going craft, and the others of
 smaller size for coast defense operations;
 one gunboat and one fuel oil ship. If this programme is followed out, Mir. Daniels says. "the increase will be note- worthy and will give us well rounded navy equal If not superior, to that of any navy in the world ship for ship and man for man." Reduce Number
 Secretary Daniels programme. he states, follows the policy of the general board recommendations but reduces tho num-
 Der of ships of each class asked for. The
 board recommended the construction of
 the following as the 1916 programme -Four dreadnaughts. 16 destroyers. three | sea-golng submarines. 16 coast defense submarines: four scout cruisers, four gum | boats, two fuel oil ships. one destroyer | tender. one submarine tender, one navy | transport. one hospital ship, one supply
 ship and . $5,0oo,oo0 appropriation for navy aircraft. The board was acting on It's policy looking to the completion in lais of feet the nah lire Of which would be 4s battleships In it's report transmit ted by the secratary, it 'is stated that the present situation of the battleship fleet | is 10 ships behind that progranime the | total of those in commission under con- | struotion and authorized for completion | in 1919 being g..
 | Submarines como in for extended dis cussion by the secretary and the general board. Recent developments in naval warfare" Mir. Daniels says, have 1 strengthened faith In the efficacy of the | submarine. The department urges, there ! fore the construction of an increased | number of submarines and the larger I utilization of this weapon of warfare | which has demonstrated it's effectiveness. 1 There are many (very many more than | n few weeks ago. who believe the time | has come when the advice of Sir Percy Scott should be taken. Months ago that able English officer declared that the sub
 marine was the most effective ship of the navy of the future and advised ces- sation in the rapid construction of dread- naughts and the utilization of the money | thus spent in building large numbers of | submarines. The lay mind has accepted 1 this view of the policy. but the trained naval officers making up the general board are convinced that, while the sub marines have a large part to play in naval warfare. they do not replace the larger craft These naval statesmen hold to l the opinion that the dreadnaught re- mains the central and chief lighting force of u well-proportioned navy.
 | "The general board reiterates the opin-
 ion 1t has always held that command or 1 the sea can only be gained and held py vessels that can take and keep the sea l In all times and in all weathers and over- come tho strongest enemies that eanD | brought against them It declares other | types are valuable and have their par | tlcular uses but the backbone or any navy that can command tho sea consists of. the strongest seagoing, sea-keeping ships of it's day. or, of It's battleships' | Is on Safe Ground
 "The department feels that 1t is upon safe ground in looking to the board to nrescribe the character of the ships to be constructed. The large increase