Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-12
DANIELS UPHOLDS
HIS RULE OF NAVY
Denies That Branch of Service
Has Oeteriorated Under
His Administration.
MAKES ANNUAL REPORT
TO PRESIDENT WILSON
Urges Greater Number of Sea Fight
ers, Laying Stress on Need
of Submarines.


port submitted to the President today.
! issues a ringing denial of the charge
| that has been made in congressional quar-
ters that the American navy has deter
| iorated under his administration. He
declares that great Improvement In
the personnel has resulted from the
| many measures that have been adopted
| looking to the Improvement of the
condition of the enlisted men and that
| the material likewise has shown great
progress during the past year. He
points with pride to the achievements
of the navy in many directions, and
| says that every point, from the highest
officer to the newest recruit, there has
| been manifested a spirit of comrade-
ship and cooperation and ambition
These were manifested in every line
Of effort-under fire at Vera Cruz, at
target practice, where steady hand
and quick brain are indispensable; in
aeronautics. which have realized the
dream Of Tennyson; in the submarines
| where Jules Verne's vision has been
realized; in the sehoolroom and in the
| workshop.
Touching the material developed in
the navy the Secretary submits a build
ing program for the coming year which
comprises two dreadnaughts. six de-
stroyers, eight or more submarines
one to be large seagoing craft, and
the others Of smaller size for coast
defense operations; one gunboat and one
fuel oil ship
II 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
Secretary Daniels program, he
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:
Recommendations Of the Board.
four dreadnaughts. sixteen destroy
ers. three seagoing submarines, six
teen coast defense submarines, four
scout cruisers. four gunboats, two fuel
Oil ships. one destroyer tender, one
submarine tender, one navy transport,
one hospital ship, one supply ship and
nve-mlllion-d dollar appropriation for
navy aircraft. The board was acting
on its policy looking to the completion
in 1919 of feet the main line of
which would be forty-eight battleships.
In It's report transmitted by the Secre-
tary 1t IS stated that the present sit
uatlon OF the battleship fleet is ten
saips behind that program, the total
struct1on and authorized for compile
ton in 1919 being thirty-seven
submarines come in for extended dis
cussion by the Secretary and the gen
naval Mr paDsfs in
have strengthened faith in the efficacy
Of the submarine. The department
urges. therefore, the construction of
an increased number Of submarines
and the larger utilization of this
weapon of warfare, which has DEM
onstrated its effectiveness.
me general board reiterates the
opinion 1t has always held that com
. ma OF the sea can only be gained
keep the sea in all times and in all
WeatherS and overcome the strongest
enemies that can be brought against
them 1t declares other types are val
uaDie and have their particular uses,
Dut the backbone of any navy that can
command the sea consists of the
strongest sea-going, sea-keeping ships
OF It's day. or of its battleships.'
More Submarines SOUGHT.
However, in view of the demon
strated power of the submarine. T
would impress upon Congress the i'm
portance of making a larger increase
In the submarine craft. appropriatins
generously therefor without reducing
the appropriations for other craft. The
estimates for these were reduced to the
minimum.
Ihat our navy has not neglected the
construction of submarines will no
seen py a comparison of our strength
IN this craft with that of foreign ma
vies. 1t is roughly estimated that
there are built or building for the va
rlous navies the following number of
submarines: England, 81; France, IS;
un1ted states. 81; Germany. 81; Japan
- This estimate was made in July of
this year.
AS tar as the submarines themselves
are concerned. 1t is believed that ours
are on par with any in the world
In the appropriation made by the last
Congress two types for the first time
were fncluded-one of high surface
speed, to accompany the fleet, and one
for coast and harbor defense. In the
building OF two such distinct types we
are in accord with what foreign coun-
tries are doing, and submarine fiotillas
IN the future will probably be COM
posed of vessels of these two types"
Necessity for Aircraft.
OF aviation the Secretary says:
"Air craft have demonstrated In the
present war in Europe that no mill
tary arm is complete which lacks
them. They will not replace vessels of
war. but will extend the field of op-
erations to the air, as well as on the
surface of and underneath the water,
They provide the best means for dis
covering submarine mines and have
now become an indispensable naval
adjunct.
I'VE are but in the infancy of air
craft. The development in the manu-
facture of these craft in this country
needs to be stimulated, and the sue
cess of this arm Of the military serv-
ice abroad will be a mighty stimulus
to American manufacturers
Will Later Urge Naval Reserve.
Financial conditions resulting from
the European war have caused the de-
partment to refrain, from asking this
year for an increase in personnel, Sec
rotary Daniels states, but says a plan
will be presented to Congress next ses-
sion for the organization of a compe-
tent naval reserve force from the men
who receive honorable discharges from
the navy.
Secretary Daniels again urges that the
grades of admiral and vice admiral be
nd irwin