Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-08
Estimates Submitted Today
to Congress Total Up
Enormous Amount
FIVE MILLION MORE
THAN FOR THIS YEAR
Eight or More Submarines
Included in the List
of Naval Vessels

Washington, D. c., Dec THE ma
tion's military and naval expenses
during the next fiscal year. not includ-
ing certain fixed expenses, would
amount to $256, ,421,357 compared with
$251 ,2S4,167 during the current year
under plans of the administration as
congress today.
This amount provides for the regn-
lar army, the military academy, the
militia so far as it's cost to the federal
government is concerned, .ortifica-
hons, arsenals, military posts and the
naval establishment, including 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 subma-
rines." one oiler and one gunboat, one
of the submarines to be of the sea-
going type and seven or more to be of
the coast defense type. The hulls and
outfits of these vessels alone would
cost during the coming year almost
ten million dollars and their arms and
armament $9,425, 900.
Submarine mixes, an important fac
tor in the European conflict, are pro-
vided. For purchase Of mines and
necessary appliances to operate them
'-for closing the channels leading to
our principal seapOrts and for con-
tinuing torpedo experiments an ap-
preparation 81 $191, $50 is asked.
There is also proposed $68,O00 for
maintenance of submarine mine ma
terial and for torpedo depot ,dminis
tration in continental United States
Congressional approval of the trans
fer of four 12-inch mortars and their
carriages, valued at $4,000, from for
tifications in the United States, to the
insular possessions, is asked, together
with an estimate of $4,000 for pur-
chase Of submarine mines for closing
channels to insular seaports, and $1O-
900 for maintenance Of submarine
mine material there; $4,000 for min
ing casemates and torpedo store
house for Philippine defense, and sew
eral small appropriations for defense
of Hawaii.
In the general scheme of fortifica-
tions, aggregating almost $6,000,000,
numerous increases are asked For
construction of gun and mortar car
riages last years appropriation is
more than doubled in the estimate OF
$685. 900 for fortifying Cape Henry,
Virginia together with 100000 to
modernize older emplacements. For
purchase, manufacture and test of am
munition for mountain, field and siege
cannons $1,6OO,00O is asked, an in
crease of 100000: and various items,
ranging from 100000 to $450,000 for
seacoast cannon, purchase of ammn-
milton, sub-calibre guns, alteration Of
three-inch batteries to rapid fire field
batteries are asked. For purchase Of
searchlights for the defense Of the
more important harbors $150,000 is
asked, an increase of $4,000; prepa-
ration Of fortification plans doubled to
$4,000; and maintenance Of the mo-
bile artillery $4,000.
For Notifications in the insular pos
sessions $446.00 Is asked, an increase
of $4,000. The Panama canal forti-
fications aggregate $1,942,228, an in
crease Of $717,673, including $25,O00
for torpedo buildings and s763,000 for