Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-10-23
WILL ASK CONGRESS
FOR S2l7,650,OOO AND.
1880 Men--Secretary Daniels Re-
veals Details Of New Five
Year Program for Greater
Fleet.
WHAT PLANS CALLS FOR.
Plan Calls for Building Of Largest
Dreadnoughts AflOat.

1
The fve-year program for new con-
struction in the navy and for increased
| personnel which the President viii
submit TO Congress this winter was
made public Tuesday night in detail
by Secretary of the Navy Daniels
II calls upon Congress TO appropri-
ate this year $217 7652.1 .17S. an increase
Of about $6S.O00.00O over the current
naval appropriation. II asks Con
gresional approval for fve-year
scheme of new construction, muniti-
lions and aviation, with a total cost
Of $500. .4S2 600
Mr.. Daniels viii ask Congress TO
provide this year for an increase of
1880 men for the navy. 1900 sailors,
$500 apprentice seamen, and 1900 ma
| rines.The five-year program that MIR
| Daniels has outlined. and which has
received the approval of the President
provides for in addition to construct
ion already authorized, the following
vessels:
Ten dreadnaughts six battle cruis-
ers. ten scout cruisers. fifty destroy
ers, fifteen fleets ubmarines. eighty
five coast submarinesf four gunboats
one hospital ship,two ammunition ships.
two fuel oil ships, one repair ship Of
sthis total. the plan calls for the au-
thorization this year of the following
| Two dreadnaughts. two battle cruis-
ers. three scout cruisers. fifteen de-
stroyers, five fleet submarines. twenty
five coast submarines, twog ungoats
one hospital ship and one fuel oil ship.
Two million dollars is asked this
| year for aviation and S1,000,000 IN each
| of the four succeeding years. Fer mu-
milton reserves $S,OO0,00O is asked for
| this year. $5.000,00 in each of the next
three years and S2.00O0O0 inthe fifth
year. This program, both for the
| present year and successive years. is
larger than any ever authorized by
Congress in a single year.
| Mr.. Daniels calls attention TO the
fact that the Sixty-third Congress. in
| authorizing five battleships. twelve de-
| stroyers aud twenty-siX submarines.
had provided the largest program Of
| any one Congress before. AS a result
| of this large program. however. the
sum of $2S,369,000 is required out of
| the estimates for each year to com
| plete construction already under way
| or authorized.
The first two dreadnaughts to be
| constructed under the fve-year pro-
| gram will be the largest and most
| powerful fighting ships ever built.
| They will cost S1S,SO0,00O II is
| planed to give the two dreadnaughts a
| displacement of 10000 tons each This
is 500 tons greater than the present
super r-deadnaughts OF $4,000 tons
These two ships will carry eighteen
14-inch guns in the main battery
They viii be equipped with special
torpedo nets and will have a hull OF
entirely new design
| Secretary Daniels said:
"In addition to the $S,0OO,00 to in
crease the reserve Of munitions, have
recommended in the regular appropri-
ations an Increase OF $1,17S.9S0 for
ordnance. in which / have included
$3.50 600 for torpedo defense nets for
battleships ] have recommended also
an increase of $2S6,000 for buildings
for the storage OF guns and munitions
The reserve on hand now fully occu-
pies the present storage facilities and
it mas been found necessary to have
this increased spjace for storage TO
take care of the additional munitions
which have recommended.
"In order to provide a sufficient
number of men tom an the large num-
ber Of ships of the navy which viii be
commissioned in the near future, I
have recommended an increase of a.
500 sailors. $500 apprentice seamen.
and 500 marines. or II, 500 men in all.
This number. if is estimated. will en-
able us to keep in full commission all
battleships under fifteen years Of age,
all destroyers and submarines under
twelve years of age, one-half the num-
Der of cruisers. all Of the gunboats, and
the necessary auxiliaries for the fleet.
"The increase in the marines is bas-
ed on 20 per cent. of increase of en-
listed men of the navy, and is required
! to provide for the usual marine com
| plements of ships under construction
/ as well as for advance base organiza-
tions for operations with the fleet
| There should be an increase in the
numer of line officers to officer the
] ships soon 10 be commissioned, but as
the Naval Academy is the only source
| Of supply, the increase recommended is
| in the midshipmen.
Under the existing laws governing
/ appointment of midshipmen in mum
bers sufficient to officer the additional
ships contemplated in the new pro
1 gram, and recommendations will be
made to increase the number of mid
| shipmen at the Naval Academy by not
less than $50. The European war has
shown the necessity for a skilled fly
ing corps, whose members need not be
experienced naval officers or educated
as such. in view Of which a special fly
ing corps. TO which expert civilian fly
/ ers may be appointed, has been recon-
mended for the naval organization.
This would establish field for ser
vice for the increasing number of com
petent aviators willing TO join such an
arm of the service who cannot and
could not hope. under prevailing condi-
tions, to do so unless they either en-
listed in the navy proper or graduated
from the Naval Academy