The chronicle=news., 1914-12-24
SECY. DANIELS HAS EMPHASIZED
NEED OF MORE and LARGER SHIPS

lowing number of submarines: Eng.
land. 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 enumerat.
ed above are considered, it will be
seen that the United States has g
submarine flotilla relatively and ac-
tually very powerful. England's
I fleet is more than twice as great as
ours, yet she has but little more than
half as many more submarines.
France has a considerably larger
submarine fleet than ours, with a
smaller navy, but she has in the past
taken the lead in submarine building.
Some years ago she abandoned the
numbers of submarines. but in the
last two or three years has made un-
usual exertions to repair her def
cheney in dreadnoughts. England
has overcome this lead. and we are
on that road. having in addition to
the 81 ships already mentioned
eight or more authorized by last
years bill. on which work will
shortly commence, and we are ask
ing for eight or more this year,
which will swell our total to at least
81 in the next three years. Germany.
with n larger fleet than ours. has
less submarines and Japan with a
fleet smaller than ours in strength,
only half as many submarines.
What we have done, however. in
submarine construction is but an ear
nest ct what must be done in the
future. When we shall have di-
vision of seagoing submarines in
commission. we will have added to
She batt,esfip fleet n strong fighting
anti whicn must be OF large import
ance in any oversee operations.
AS far as the submarines them
selves are concerned, 1t is believed
that ours are on 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
harhor defense. In the building of
two such distinct types we are in ac-
cord with what foreign countries are
doing, and submarine flotillas In the
future will probably be composed OF
vessels of these two types.
or aviation the secretary says:
Air craft have demonstrated in
the present war in Europe that no
military arm is complete which lacks
them. They will not replace vessels
of war, but Will extend the field of
operations to the air as well us on
water. They provide the best means
for discovering submarine mines,
and have now become an indispensa-
Dle naval adiusct
I've are but in the infancy of air
craft The development, in the man.
ufacture OF these craft in this country
needs to be stimulated. and the suc-
cess OF this arm OF the military serv-
ice abroad will be mighty stimulus
to American manufacturers.
Orders were given early in the
year. for some foreign built aero
planes, in addition to larger orders
for aeroplanes made in this country.
Unfortunately the war made it i'm
,osslble for the orders placed abroad
to be filled. and the trial of such
craft must be postponed. The best
types Of American manufacture have
been ordered. and the department
will develop this modern branch OF
the naval service steadily and rap
idly.'
the same view. Its report refers to
It's recommendations in 1913 which
brought to the attention Of the de-
partment the dangerous situation OF
( the country in the lack of air craft
and air men in both the naval and
military services. At the present
time. the total number of air craft OF
any kind owned by the navy con-
sists of 10 aeroplanes, not more than
! Two of which are of the same type
and all reported to have too little
speed and carrying capacity for serv-
ice work.
In our present condition of UMPIRE.
paredness in contact with any foe
possessing a proper air service. OH.
scouting would be blind. We would
be without the means of detecting
the presence of submarines or mine
fields or attempting direct attack OH
the enemy from the air, while our
own movements would be an open
book to him. The general board can
not too strongly urge that the DE-.
~artment's most serious thought be
given to this matter, and that con.
gress lie asked for an appropriation
of at least S5,000.000 for the pur.
pose of establishing an efficient all
service
, Financial conditions resulting from
The European war have caused the
department to refrain from asking