Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-12
mans Suffer Enormous Casualties, Is Russian Claim

strated power OF the submarine, would
Impress upon Congress the irnportance
or making larger increase In the
submarine craft, npproprinting gensr-
ously therefor without reducing the APP
propriations for other craft. Tho esti-
mates for these were reduced to the
BUILDING OF SUBMARINES
NOT NEGLECTED by NAVY
That our navy has not neglected
the construction of submarines will be
seen by comparison OF our strength
in this craft with that ot foreign
nayles 1t is roughly estimated that
there are built or building for the vari-
Gus nayies the following number Of
submarines: England, 81; France, 76;
United States. 81; Germany. 81; Japan,
II. This estimate was made in July
OF this year.
When the relative sizes of the fleets
OF the great nations enumerated above
are considered, 1t will be seen that the
United States has submarine fiotilla
relatively and actually very powerful.
Engiands fleet Is moro than twice as
great as ours. yet she has but little
more than half as many more sub.
marines. France has considerably
larger submarine fleet than ours. with
smaller navy, but she has in the past
Some years ago she abandoned the
Dreadnought policy to acquire large
numbers OF submarines. hut In the last
two or three years has made unusual
exert!ons to repair her deficiency In
Dreadnoughts. England has overcome
this lead, and we are on that road,
having. in addition to the flfty-one
ships already mentioned, eight or more
authorized by last years bill. on which
work VIII shortly commence, and we
nre asking for eight or more this year,
which will swell our total to at least
Germany. with larger fleet than ours,
has less submarines. and Japan. with a
heet smaller than ours In strength,
only half as many submarines.
What we have done, however, In
submarine construction ir but an
earnest OF what must be done in the
future. When we shall have q division
of seagoing submarines In commlssio on,
we will have added to the battIeship
neetIa strong lighting unit which must
be OF lnrge Importance In any oversee
operations.
SUBMARINES ON PAR
WITH ANY IN WORLD
AS far as the submarines them
selves are concerned, Il Is believed
that ours are on a par with any In
the world In the appropriation made
by the last Congress, two types for
the first time were included.one OF
high surface speed. to accompany the
fleet, and one for coast. and harbor
defense. In the building of two such
distinct types. we are In accord with
what foreign countries are doing. and
submarine 1ottllas In the future will
probably be composed of vessels of
these two types.
OF aviation. the secretary says:
Aircraft have demonstrated in tho
present war In Europe that no mill
tary arm is complete which lacks
them. They will not replace vessels
OF war. but will extend the fold of
operations to the air, as we'll as on
the surface OF and underneath the
water. They provide the best means
for discovering submarine mines. and
have now become an indispensa bio
naval adjunct.
I'VE are but in tho infancy of air
craft. The development In the manu-
facture OF these craft in~thts country
needs to be stimulated. and the sue
cess of this arm of the military SER
Vice abroad will be mighty stimulus
to American manufacturers.
Orders were given early In the year
for some foreisn-built aeroplanes, In