The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-12
NAVY NEEDS TWO
DREADNAUGHTS
EIGHT SUBMARINES

(Continued from Page Onel
government, in the absence of COM
petition, should desire to build its
own submarines. During the COM
ing year, IL is quite likely that II
will be necessary TO further increase
the construction of submarines in
navy yards.
Aeropiane Scouts
The scout work OF the two hydro
aeroplanes at Vera Cruz assured the
feet OF the absence OF mines and
located sunken works. Air craft
have well-nigh prevented the sur
prise OF one army by another, as in
even recent wars. The new aero
nautic station and flying school at
Pensacola have fully justified their
establishment. While conditions in
Europe preclude the desired pur-
chase, for the purpose of a try-out,
OF foreign-built air craft, the de-
partment has ordered the best types
of home manufacture, and has been
prepared TO develop this service fast
er than manufacturers OF most ap-
proved designs of hydro-aeroplanes
have been able 10 supply them.
Their steady increase on a large
scale is a fixed policy of the depart
ment.
The effort continues to be to save
ashore for expenditure afioat, and
the estimates for the fiscal year Of
1915-16, amount to $139,569, 409.S8
or 1894 ,306.73 less than the 1915
appropriations. The department.
spent no dollar merely because IL
was appropriated, and turns back IN
to the treasury $2,427,539.76 out Of
the appropriations for the last fiscal
year.
The sharpest competition has been
insisted upon this year as last. The
three battleships authorized this
year, which are to be known as the
California. Idaho. and Mississippi.
would have cost s432.440 more had
the contracts been placed at the
same cost per ton OF displacement
as the cost OF the Pennsylvania. The
injunction OF the naval act OF 1914
that nothing shall be bought in the
markets which can be made as
cheaply or more so by the navy it.
self has been conscientiously obeyed.
Contrary TO popular idea. the navy
can manufacture it's material--from
leviathian superdreadnaughts, en-
gines for battleships, gasoline en-
gines. shrapnel, uniforms, accounter-
ments, and the like. down to a pound
OF powder or a gallon OF paint
cheaper than 1t can be purchased.
II has lived to see powder fall from
so cents a pound to 80 cents, be-
cause II undertook itself to make 1t.
IT the department had purchased the
powder II made last year its powder
bill would have been increased by
s397,536.16. The navy has in the
two years Il has been making tor
pedoes. reduced the cast of manu-.
facture In its Newport plant from
$4,000 to $4,000 each, while the
price at the only private plant is
SIS 900 apiece.
Pursuant to provision In the last
naval bill. a commission, consisting
Of the chairmen of the two naval
affairs committees, Senator Tillman
and Representative Padgett. and one
naval officer, Rear Admiral Strauss.
chief OF the bureau OF ordnance. are
at present investigating the cost OF
a government armor plant OF either
10, 900 or 10000 tons annually. II
Is sincerely TO be regretted that the
war in Europe prevents examination
into armor-plate abroad The three
armor- making plants I'm this country
usually submit identical or nearly
identical bids. The 24.3S4 tons Of
armor for the three battleships
authorized during the first year OF
the present administration OF the
navy, the department expected TO Sc
cure at wholesale rates at least. but
this sinele-minded trio OF factories
submitted bids only trifie less than
the price thev had received for the
armor OF the Arizona last wear. The
bids were promptlv rejected. and
upon the second bidding the DEPART
ment accented bids which resulted In
an economy OF s73S.64S. The de-
partment renews its recommendation
for n government armor-plate fac
tory.
Preventing Hoidups
Potential facilities for manufac-
ture would prevent brazen CONNER
cial hoIdup OF the navy. While n
Is not the policy OF the department
20 make everything II needs. such
nroposed facilities would prevent
commercial fermentation OF war for
purposes OF personal gain.
Accounting methods have been i'm
proved nv special inquiry into the
subject Of overhead CHARGES ut navy
wards. and they will he OF great VAL
We for purnoses or comoarison with
outside bids on construction and
manufacture. "
A plan has been put into opera