Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-12
SECRETARY DANIELS OF THE NAVY
RECOMMENDS z DREADN0UCHTS
EIGHT OR MORE SUBMARINES"


,esses of submarines in the European
war have not swayed United states
navy officials from their belief that all
bfg-gun battleships of the dreadnought
type form the main dependence of any
sea power. The construction Of two
such ships next year was recommended
by Secretary Daniels in his annual re-
port submitted today to President viii
son. The Navy General Board urged
the building of four.
The complete building program for
the coming year recommended by Sec
rotary Daniels comprises:
Two dreadnoughts, six destroyers,
eight or more submarines, one to be
a large, sea- going craft, and the others
of smaller size for coast defense opera
tions; one gunboat and one fuel oil
ship.
If this program is followed out, Mr..
Daniels says, 1.-The increase will be
noteworthy and will give US we'll
rounded navy equal, if not superior, to
that of any navy in the world, ship for
ship and man for man."
Secretary Daniels program, he
states, follows the policy of the Cen
eral Board recommendations hut re-
1uees the number of ships OF each
class asked for The board recon
amended the construction of the follow
ing as the 1916 program:
Four dreadnoughts, 16 destroyers,
three sea-going submarines, l6 coast
defense submarines, four scout cruisers,
Tour gunboats, two fuel oil ships, one
destroyer tender. one submarine tender,
one navy transport, one hospital ship,
one supply ship and S5,000,000 appro-
priation for navy aircraft. The Board
was acting on it's policy looking to the
completion in 1919 of fleet the main
line of which would be as battleships.
In its report transmitted by the secre-
tary, 1t Is stated that the present stu
alton of the battleship fleet is 10 ships
behind that program, the total of those
in commission under construction and
authorized for completion in 1919 be-
ing 81
Submarines come in for extended dis
cussion by the secretary and the Gen
eral Board. Recent developments in
naval warfore." Mr.. Daniels says.
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 demonstrated its
effectiveness. There are many very
many more than 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 submarine was
The most effective ship of the navy of
the future and advised a cessation in
the rapid construction of dreadnoughts
and the utilization of the money thus
spent in building large numbers of sub
marines. The lay mind has accepted
this view of the policy. but the trained
naval officers making mp the general
board are convinced that while the
submarines have a large part to play
in naval warfare. they do not replace
the larger craft These naval states
men hold to the opinion that the dread
nought remains the central and chief
fighting force of a -proportioned
navy.
The General Board reiterates the
opinion it has always held that com
mand of the sea can only be gained and
held. by vessels that can take and 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 valuable and
have their particular uses. but the
backbone of any navy that can COM
mand the sea consists of the strongest
sea-going. sea-keeping ships of its day.
or, of its battleships.'
THE department feels that ii is upon
safe ground in looking to the board to
prescribe the character of the ships to
be constructed. The large increase in
submarines is most desirable, but moth
ing in the present war has disproved
their faith in the modern dreadnought
The fact that there has been no en-
counter between these powerful ships
does not justify the conclusion that
their further construction should be
discarded in favor of the smaller craft
which has astonished the world by its
ability to sink cruisers and other craft,
giving its severest and most fatal
blows before it's presence is discov-
cred. 1t may be that naval engage
ments later on will teach lessons that
will change expert opinion, but as lon1;
as the bulk of the ablest naval officers;
believe the increase of the navy should
embrace in fair proportion, the dread
nought. the destroyer, and the sub
marine. the secretary would not feel
warranted in recommending widely
different program of construction.
However, in view of the demon
strated power of the submarine. I
would impress upon Congress the i'm
portance of making a larger increase
in the submarine craft, appropriating
generously therefor without reducing
the appropriations for other craft. The
estimates for these were reduced to
the minimum.
THAT our navy has not neglected the
construction, of submarines will be
seen by 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 various
navies the following number of sub
marines: England, "a; France, rs; Unit
ed States, 81: Germany 81; Japan. H.
This estimate was made in July of this