The Washington times., 1914-10-21
Long Coast Lines, Lessons of
War, Europe's Naval Pro-
gram, and Cost Urged in
Budget Consideration.

Sensational feats accomplished by
German submarines since the COM
mencement of hostilities have moved
the American Governments naval
chiefs to give serious consideration
to the necessity of increasing the
strength of the submarine fiotilla.
With this country's long coast lines
on two oceans to protect, and the i'm
possibility Of adequately protecting
them with coast Notifications. the sub
marine, since the lesson the Germans
have taught by it's use in the North
Sea, has doomed up as the solution OF
the problem.
Submarine experts of the navy de-
clare that with a fleet Of 200 sub
marines, 100 on each coast, the United
States could withstand any naval at
tack. There are at present fifty-one
submarines, built or building in the
navy, and bids for eight more are to
be advertised for in December.
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels de-
clares that the general board of the
navy has purposely delayed its recon-
next year, because its members wished
to study the lessons Of the European
war" Mr. Daniels said he would be
guided also in his recommendations to
Congress by these lessons.
That one Of the chief lessons thus far
learned has been that demonstrating the
utility Of the submarine Is made plain
by consideration given this war craft.
Place For Submarines.
The general board of the navy. now
in session and the general staff of the
army have had before them specific
recommendations for use of the sub
marine in coast defense. Before Civ
ing UP the post Of chief of staff of the
army, Mai. Gen. Leonard Wood de-
clared that Puget Sound, Long Island
Sound. San Francisco harbor and the
entrance to Chesapeake Bay cannot be
mined because of strength of current
and other untoward conditions. He
recommended that submarines be sta
toned at these points as part Of their
defenses.
Admiral Dewey went further and
pointed out a number of locations along
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts where
submarines should be stationed. He
mentioned the following places:
New York, the entrances to Delaware
river and Chesapeake bay, Cape Charles,
and Cape Henry. New Orleans. Calves
ton, San Francisco. the entrance to Pu-
get Sound, wilmington, savannah, ana
Key West.
with two submarines at Galveston
Admiral Dewey said, all the navies of
the world could not blockade that
port"
Members of Congress from the. Pacific
coast have been working for years for
more submarines to supplement the
coast Notifications and the battleship
fleet in protecting the coast cities from
attack The Pacific coast was given
four of the eight submarines appropria-
ted for in the last naval bill.
May Ask For Twelve.
Friends of the submarine in Con-
gress indicate that Congress may be
asked to appropriate for twelve of this
type of war craft this year. instead Of
eight as last year, and four the preced-
ing year.
So rapidly are other countries increas-
ing their submarine strength that Sec
retarv Daniels believes this Govern
ment should keep up and increase our
submarine strength. The Secretary
added that with the Navy Department
and Congress both working toward an
adequate submarine fleet, 1t is be-
lieved that our concurrent progress with
foreign countries is fairly assured"
Considering the number Of subma-
rtrnes in our navy and the principal
foreign navies," Secretary Daniels de-
clared, I'VE find that England has a
feet Of about seventy-five in service
twenty-four in service and seven or
more building; France sixty-seven in
service and nine or more building; ia
pan fifteen in service and two. and
possibly more, building, while in the
United States we have thirty-six in
service, fourteen building. and eight
about to be contracted for.
These figures may be modified some
what at present, for in some Of these
countries submarines were building for
other powers at the commencement of
the war. and these vessels have I'M
doubtedly been taken over as part of
the respective navies. Further, since
submarine matters are considered Sc
cret the figures Of vessel building are
guarded and may not be exactly cor
rect However, looking over the above
figures we find that. roughly. there are
built or building for the various ma
vies: England. 81: France, rs; United
States, 81; Germany. 81; japan, II.
Relative Naval Strength.
when the relative sizes of the fleets
Of the great nations enumerated above
are considered. it will be seen that the
United States possesses a submarine
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