The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-08
$256,42l,357F FOR
MILITARY NEEDS Of
COUNTRY IS URGED
Estimates of Appropria-
tiOns For Coming Fiscal
Year Submitted to
Congress

washington december Am er1can
military and naval expenses for the
next fiscal year. not including certain
fixed expenses, would amount to $685.
421,357 compared with $251,2S4,167 dur
ing the current year under plans of the
administration, embodied In estimates
submitted 10 Congress today The
amount provides for the regular army,
military academy, the militia so far
as it's cost to the federal government
is concerned, Qualifications, arsenals,
military posts and the naval establish
ments including the proposed naval
building programme and the increase
in the navy heretofore authorized.
The tentative naval building pro-
gramme for the next fiscal year, in
Dictated in the estimates is for two bat
tleships, six torpedo boat destroyers
Eight or more submarines" one oiler
and one gunboat, one of the submar-
ines to be of the seagoing type, and
seven or more to be those of the coast
type. The complete outfits of these yes-
sells alone would cost during the COM
ing year almost s10,O00,000 and their
arms and armament s9,425,00O above
hulls.
Want More Submarines
Democratic Leader Underwood, some
of the members of the naval commit
tee and others in Congress having in
mind the European war lessons. favor
an increase in submarines rather than
in the larger type of naval craft.
Tentative ~Stimates for the naval
programme are "all on the assumption
that new vessels to be authorized at
this session will be built by contract"
For purchase of submarine mines
and necessary appliances to operate
them for closing the channels leading
to our principal seaports and for con-
tinuing torpedo experiments" an APP
preparation of $191,550 is asked There
is also proposed S6S,000 for mainten-
ance of submarine mine material and
Tor torepdo depot administration In
continental United States
Congressional approval of the trans
fer of four 12-inch mortars and tn cir
carriages, valued at s110, 600, 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 to close
channels to jnsular seaports and $10,
600 for maintenance of submarine ma
terial theN; $4,000 for mining case
ments ando torepdo storehouses for
Philippine defense and several small
appropriations for defense of Hawaii.
Increases Asked
In the general scheme of fortifica-
tions, aggregating almost $4,000. 900
numerous increases are asked. For con-
struetion of gun and mortar carriages
last years appropriation is more than
doubled in the estimate of $685. 900 for
terrifying Cape Henry, Va, together
with 100000 to inodernize older en-
placements. For purchase, manufacture
and test of ammunition for mountain,
field and siege cannon $1,600,000 is
asked an increase of 100000. Various
other items ranging from 100000 to
S450,000ffor seaooast cannon, purchase
of ammunition, subcalibre guns and al
iteration of three-inch batteries to rapid
fire field batteries. are proposed. For
purchase of searchlights for defense of
the more important harbors $4,000 is
asked, an increase of $4,000.
For Notifications in the insular pos
sessions $446.000 is asked, an increase
of $4,000. The Panama canal fortifica-
tons arrgegate $1s42,22S, an increase
of $717,673 including $4,000 for tor
pedo buildings and $T63,000 for pur-
chase manufacture and test of am
muntion for seacoast and land defense
cannon and machinery necessary for its
manufacture at the arsenals, and for
maintenance of seacoast artillery
Barracks at Mobile
The Secretary of War also would be
given discretionary authority to spend
$4,000 of this amount to erect a build =
ing for manufacture OF projectiles. Tho
estimates also call for an appropriation
of $56S, $50 for construction of barracks
for the Mobile armory and coast ar
tillery in the canal zone for which
100000 was appropriated last year and
increase the appropriation of $4,000
for fire control stations at Panama to
s3S3,301.
Among plans Tor Notifications of the
insular possessions as contemplated, are
maintenance of seacoast artillery Sac
600, in addition to 100000 for the same
purpose on the continent, ammunition
for seacoast cannon 100000, land de-
Tense and seacoast construction In
Hawaii $4,000; and small items for
fortlfcations repair work in the Phil
ippines.