Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-08
ESTIMATE OF s256,42,357
FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE
Ahcrease OF $5,OOO,O0O for Military
and Naval Expenses Over Cur
rent Year Sought.
PLANS OF ADMINISTRATION
Tentative Naval Program Calls for
Two Battleships, Eight OF More
Submarines and Other Craft-Sen-
timent for More Submarines.

WASHINGTON. December 7.-Ameri-
can military and naval expenses for the
next fiscal year, not including certain
fixed expenses. would amount to $256.
421.357 compared with $251.2S4,167 dur
Ing the current year. under plans OF
tho administration embodied in esti-
mates submitted to Congress to-day.
Tho amount provides for the regular
army. military academy. the militia SO
far as It's cost to the Federal govern
mont Is concerned,. fortiHcations. arse
nails. military posts and the naval es-
tablishments. including the proposed
naval building program, and the in
crease in the navy heretofore author
lied.
The tentative naval building program
for the next fiscal year, as indicated In
the estimates, calls for two battleshIps.
six torpedo-boat destroyers. eight or
moro submarines," one oiler and one
gunboat. ono OF the submarines to be
OF the seasoing type, and seven or
more to be the coast defense type
The hulls and outfits OF these vessels
alone would cost during the coming
year almost 100000 900. and their arms
and armament. $9,425.000.
Democratic Leader Underwood some
OF the members of the Naval Commit
tee and others In Congress-. having in
MIND the European war lessons. favor
an Increase In submarines rather than
In tho larger type OF naval craft.
BASED ON ASSUMPTION
OF BUILDING ny CONTRACT
Tentative estimates for the naval
program are all ION the assumption
that new vessels to be authorized at
this session Will be built by contract"
For the purchase of submarine mines
them, FOR closing the channels lead
ing to our principal seaports and for
continuing torpedo experiments" an
appropriation of 31s1,350 is asked
There Is also proposed $4,000 for main
tenance OF submarine mine material.
and for torpedo depot administration. In
continental United States.
Congressional approval OF the trans
Ter OF four twelve-inch mortars and
their carriages, valued at $4,000 from
fortifcations In the United States, to
the insulnr possessions. Is asked, to-
gether with an estimate OF $4,000 for
the purchase OF submarine mines for
Closing channels to insular seaports.
and $4,000 for maintenance of subma-
rine material there: $4,000 for mining
classmates and torpedo storehouses for
Phiappine defense. and several small
appropriations for defense Of Hawaii
In the general scheme OF fortiflca-
uons' aggregating almost $4,000. 600.
numerous increases are asked Tor
construction OF gun and mortar car
riages last years appropriation is more
than doubled in the estimate OF s5s5. 900
gether with 100000 to modernize
older emplacements. For purchase,
manufacture and test OF ammunition
Tor mountain. field and siege cannon
sA6oo.00o is asked, an increase of
100000. Various other Items. ranging
~
cannon, purchase or ammunition, sub
calibre guns. and alteration OF 3-inch
batteries to rapid fire field batteries OF
the more important harbors, $4,000
Is asked. an increase Of $4,000.
For fortihcations in the insular pos
sessions *446.0o0 is asked, an increase
of $4,000. The Panama Canal forti-
fications aggregate sl,o42,22s, an in
crease OF s717673. including $4,000
for torpedo buildings. and s763.OOo for
purchase. manufacture and test of am
munition for sencoast and land defense
cannon and machinery necessary for
Its manufacture at the arsenals and
The Secretary of War also would be
given discretionary authority to spend
$4,000 OF this amount to erect n build
ing for manufacturing projectiles. The
estimates also call for an appropri-
alton OF s56s,5s0 for construction NJ
barracks for the mobile army and coast
artillery In the canal zone, for which
100000 was appropriated last year,
and Increase the. appropriation OF $50
600 for fire control stations ut Panama
to $3s3,3o1.
Among plans for fortifications of the
insular possessions. as contemplated.
are maintenance of seacoast artillery,
$4,000. in addition to 100000 for the
aame purpose on the continent; ammu-
milton for seacoast cannon, 100000:
land defenses and sea wall construc-
ton In Hawaii s170.0o0: and small
items for Notifications repair work in
the Philippines.