Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-12-13
Daniels MADE
I,ANNUAL REPORT
Secretary Of the navy Outlines
His Plans in Report to the
President.

washington, Lee. lZ.-StartllnS use
cesses of submarines in the European
war have not swayed United States
navy officials from their belief that
all big.gun battleships of the dread
naught type form the main depend
ence of any sea power. The construc-
ton of two such ships next year was
recommended by Secretary Daniels il
his annual report submitted recently
to President Wilson. The navy gen.
eral board urged the building of four.
The complete building program for
the coming year recommended 10Y
Secretary Daniels comprises:
Two dreadnaughts, six d~estroyers,
eight Or more submarines, one to be
a large sea-going craft and the others
of smaller size for coast defense op-
erations; n gunboat and one fuel
oil ship.
"If this program is followed out"
Mr.. Daniels says, "the increase will
be noteworthy and will give US a well
rounded navy equal, If not superior,
to that Of any navy in the world, ship
for ship and man for man."
oCS1 CLdLy Dd1llClo P1OSl dill liz
states, follows the policy of the gen.
eral board recommendations but re-
duces the number Of ships of each
class asked for. The board recon-
mended the construction of the fol-
lowing as the 1916 program:
-Four dreadnaughts, sixteen destroy
ers, three sea-going submarines, six
teen coast defense submarines, four
scout cruisers, four gunboats, two
fuel oil ships, n destroyer tender,
one submarine tender, one navy trans
port, n hospital ship, one supply
ship and a $4,000, 900 appropriation
for navy air craft. The board was
acting on it's policy looking to the
completion in 1919 Of a fleet, the main
line Of which would be forty-eight
D%attleships. In it's report transmitted
by the secretary, it is state that the
present situation of the '%battleship
fleet is ten ships behind that program,
the total of those in commission, IN.
der construction and authorized for
completion in 1919 being thirty-seven
Submarines Discussed.
Submarines come in for extended
discussion by the secretary and the
central board. Recent develop
ments in naval warfare" MI. Daniels
says, "have strengthened faith in the
efficacy OF the submarine. The depart.
ment urges, therefore, the construc:
ton Of an increased number of sub
marines and the larger utilization OF
this weapon of warfare which has
demonstrated it's effectiveness. There
are many very many more than a
few weeks ago. who believe the time
has come when tie advice Of Sir
Percy Scott should he taken. Months
ago that able English officer declared
that the submarine was the most ct
fective ship of the navy of the future
and advised a cessation in the rapid
construction Of ,dreadnaughts and the
utilization of the money thus spent in
building large numbers of submarines.
The lay mind has accepted this view
of the policy, but the trained naval
officers making up the general board
are convinced that, while the subma-
rines have a large part to play in
naval warfare, they do not replace the
larger craft. These naval statesmen
hold to the opinion that the dread.
naught remains the central and chief
fighting force of a well-proportioned
navy. 4
However, in view of the demon
strated power of the submarine,
would impress upon congress the i'm.
portance Of making larger increase in
the submarine craft, appropriati1s
generously therefor without reducing
the appropriations for other craft.
The estimate for these were reduced
to the minimYm.
THAT u navy has not neglected
the construction Of submarines will
be seen by a comparison of our
strength in this craft with that of
foreign navies. It is roughly estimat'
ed that there are build or building
for the various navies the following
number of submarines: England "a,
France rs, United States 81, Ger
many 81, Japan II. This estimate
was made in July of this year.
'.What we have done, however, in
submarine construction is but an ear
nest of what must be done in the
future. When we shall have a divi
sion of seagoing submarines in com
mission, we will have added to the
battleship fleet a strong fighting unit