Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-07
ASK $256,621,357
FOR ARMY ANDNAW
Administration Increases Esti-
mates More Than Five Mil
lions for Defense.
TWO-BATTLESHIP PLAN
CONTINUED FOR 1916
Submarine Boats, Mines and Tor
pedoes Provided For-Big Gun
Requests Nearly Doubled.

The nations military and naval ex-
penses during the next fiscal year. not
including certain fixed expenses.
would amount to 1856, 421,357. compared
with $251.2S4,167 during the current
year, under plans Of the administra-
tion as embodied in estimates submit
ted to Congress today. This amount
provides for the regular army. the mil
itary academy. the militia SO far as Its
cost to the federal government is con-
cerned. Notifications, arsenals. military
posts and the naval establishments, in
Guiding the proposed naval building
program and the increase in the navy
heretofore authorized.
The tentative administration naval
building program for the next fiscal
year, as indicated in the estimates. Is
for two battleships, six torpedo boat
destroyers, eight or more submarines,
one oiler and one gunboat, one of the
submarines to be of the seagoing type
and seven or more to be of the coast
defense type. The bulls and outfits Of
the coming year almost $10,000.000. and
their arms and armament $9,425,0O
May Increase Submarines.
Democratic Leader Underwood, some
of the members of the naval commit
tees and others in Congress, having in
mind the European war lessons, favor
an increase in submarines rather than
in the larger type of naval craft. This
sentiment is expected to be injected
into debates during the present ses-
program are all ION the assumption
that new vessels to be authorized at
this session will be built by contract"
The final program will be outlined by
Secretary Daniels just before the
naval bill is reported to the House
factor in the European conflict. are
provided. For purchase of submarine
mines and necessary appliance to
operate them for closing the chan
and for continuing torpedo expert
ments," an appropriation of s191,35O. IS
asked. There is also proposed $68, 900
for maintenance of submarine mine
istration in continental United States"
Insular Defenses.
Congressional approval of the trans
fer of four twelve-inch mortars and
their carriages. valued at $4,000,
from Notifications in the United
States to the insular possessions is
asked, together with an estimate of
$4,000 for purchase of submarine
mines for closing channels to insular
seaports and $4,000 for maintenance
OF submarine material there; $4,000
for mining classmates and torpedo
storehouses for Philippine defense and
several small appropriations for de-
Tense of Hawaii
In the general scheme of fortifica-
lions. aggregating almost $4,000, 900,
aonc
construction of gun and mortar car
riages last years appropriation is more
than doubled in the estimate of $585,OOO
for fortifying Cape Henry, Va, to-
getAer with 100000 to modernize old
er emplacements For purchase, manu-
factIre and test of ammunition for
mountain, field and siege cannon, ST.
100000 is asked, an increase of 100000;
and various items. ranging from $780,
900 to s450,000. for seacoast cannon.
purchase of ammunition, subcaliber
guns, alteration of three-inch batteries
to rapid-fire Held batteries. are asked
For purchase of searchlights for de-
tense of the more important harbors
S Saa is asked, an increase of $780,
600; preparation of fertilization plans
doubled to $4,000, and maintenance Of
the mobile artillery, $4,000 is asked.
Panama Forts.
Fortifications in the insular posses.
sions, $446,0O0 is asked, an increase Of
$4,000. The Panama canal fortifica-
tions aggregates S1,942,228, an increase
of $717.673. including $4,000 for tor
pedo buildings and $763,0O0 for pur-
chase, manufacture and test of am
munition for seacoast and land defense
cannon and machinery necessary for its
manufacture at the arsenals and for
maintenance of seacoast artillery. The
Secretary of War also would be given
discretionary authority to spend $4,000
Of this amount to erect a building for
manufacturing projectiles. The esti-
mates also call for an appropriation of
s56S,580 for construction Of barracks
70. the mobile army and coast artillery
in the Canal Zone, for which 100000
was appropriated last year, and in
creased the appropriation Of $4,000 for
fire control stations at Panama to $3.50,
3O1.
Among the plans for fortiications OF
the insular possessions, contem-
plated, are maintenance Of seacoast ar
ti1lery, $4,000 in addition to 100000
for the same purpose on the continent;
ammunition for seacoast cannon, $780,
900; land defenses and seawall con-
struction in Hawaii, $4,000, and small
items for Notifications repair work in
the Philippines.