The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-09
BADGER FAV0RS 50
NEW DREADN0UGHTS
/. :. Also Needs 100 Subma-
rincs to Be in shape for
War. Tcstifies Admiral.
AMPLE AIR FLEET URGED

WAsui<cToN. Dec. S-Irinressive testi-
mony relative to the upbuilding Of the
navy was given before the House Com
mittee on Naval Affairs to-day by Ad-
miral Charles j. Badger, a member OF
the General Naval Board.
Admiral Badger, who until recently
was in command OF tn, Atlanti fleet and
who has a high standing in the service.
told the committee that the United states
In order to he lis the best possible shape
for war should equip itself with forty
eight battieships of the hrst line, 100
subma rines. ample air craft OF tho vari-
Gus types and an adequate number OF
auNliaries. lie gave 1t ~ his opinion
that the United States should build four
battleships a year until 1919 and a cor
responding number or submarines and
other craft.
II such programme we're adopted.
the Admiral said. the United States would
in Ave years rank second only to Great
Britain as "A naval Power superseding
Germany. lie testified to the efficiency
/ OF the submarine as an offensive adjunct
OF the fleet, but made il clear that he did
not wish TO he understood as saying
that additional submarines should he OBJ
tanned at the sacrifice of battleships
| Three Obsolete prcdrcRdUOuebts.
| II was brought out that the United
| States now has 40 battleships. 10 being
/ dreadnoughts or vessels that could he util-
| lied in the fighting line in time of war.
| and - predrca dnoug..ts. or the predread-
noughts. Admiral Badger ss d, the In
diana oregon and Massa chusetts are
, obsolete because each is more than twenty
| years old and should not be given serious
consideration in calculating tho fighting
| efficiency of the navy.
The naval officer made II clear that in
advocating the equipment Of the navy with
| IS batneships he had in mind dread
noughts only. The adoption OF his pro-
gramme would require the addition OF 80
dreadnoughts. including those now build
ing and ships to be authorized. With the
| predreadnoughts now in commission this
would give the United states feet Of 10
battloships OF all classes
Tho General Board has for years advo-
Gated more ambitious building pro-
gramme than the executive head OF the
Navy Department. The board recon-
mended last year, and probably VIII re-
peat 1t this wear. that the United states
should construct four bat;leships every
twelve months The Navy Department IL
committed to two battleships
| Admiral Badger recommended that the
United States iuCredS, is submarine nee
TO 100 vessels. He said that submarines
had been recently used with great emec
and tina; they should be used for Thu
coast defence Of tire United state
and insular possessions TIL" Admira
added that he would not station these
submarines in any particular section. hi
would keep them in fotil.as.
Scout work performed 10y air craft wa
highly praised by the Admiral He sa!t
they could pick up submarine nj dept
Of fifty feet below the surface or th'
water. as proved by experiments made
Guantanamo. and expressed the opinion
: that in the open sea aircraft might dctec
submarines at a greater depth
Occasion was taken by the Admlra
10 deny that the navy had OF late neg
lected target practice. He said there ha'
been elementary ship practice, fleet prac
: tice and division practice. Nc said tina
there may have been delays in tarE'
practice on some ships because ~ III
OPP atiors at N,ra cruz hut that thu
navy had been n"glectful in this regar'
As represented in some newspapers wa
entirely without foundation.
, admiral Badger and Secretary pane
\ will appear before the committee to-mor
row. The committee will begin work OIL
the naval appropriation bill on Thursday