The Washington times., 1915-12-25
Not Agreed Also on BattIeship
Building Facilities Of Ameri-
can Shipyards.
FOUR DREADNAUGHTS URGED
Board Recommends Construc-
ton of Four Battle Cruisers
and Increased Facilities.

It developed today, following the pub
lication bv Secretary Daniels Of the
surpressed July report CT. the Navy
General Board. that the Secretary and
the board are not agreed on the battle
shin building facilities OF Amerio an
shiryards
Secretary Daniels, in defending his
action in reducing the estimates made
by the board said that the program OF
four capital ships and a,Ixiliaries he
urged for authorization next year Will
tax to the utmost the facilities OF Amer
lean shipyards. Tho board. in the sup
pressed report. said the program OF
eight capital ships It recommended was
well within the limit of existing facili-
ties.
Mr.. Daniels today made public the
suppressed report of the board. con-
cerning which storm has been raised
by members CT Congress.
The Boards Recommendations.
The program submitted ly the gen
eral hoard called for the authorization
OF four dreadnaughts and four battle
cruisers in 1917 The program submit
ted to Congress by Mr.. Daniels called
for two dreadnGu ughts and two battle
cruisers in 1917.
No estimate Of cost was submitted by
the general board. but MIR. Daniels said
the July program OF the board would
cost S270GN,O00 for new construction.
additional Sums for continuing old
construction. ammunition reserve, ard
air craft w'u uld bring the total to $780,
NoCOO
Mr. Daniels estimate &C cost for 19l,
construction in the program he suit
mittcd to Congress called fer S5I 90 fer
new construction. and $3S ,000.oOD for
completion of ships previously author
ized. for aviation. and Tor reserve am
munition. a total OF $500 0OO.
The $500, 100000 naval construction eX-
penditure recommended by the general
board for 1917 was considered only as a
starter. The program of construction
submitted was believed by the board to
be at the limit OF facilities at present
existing"
Increased Facilities Urged.
While embark:ng on this building
program. the board urged that there
should be increased facilities for navy
yards and shore establishments gener-
ally" with the idea that more ships
might be built in subsequent years
In outlining the policy it believed
the United States should adopt in OBJ
tanning a navy equal to the most pow
erful maintained by any other nation
of the world the general board said
that this limit should be attained not
later than 1925.
Naval experts in considering this re-
port reached the conclusion that the
minimum expenditure under the board s
plan would be 500. 10000 in 1917. and
that this yearly expenditure would be
increased year by year as fast as navy
yards and private plants should be
equipped to build more warships. The
highest point in expenditure would be
reached. under this plan, in 1922. the
last year available for appropriations
for vessels to be completed in 1925
The Suppressed Report.
The suppressed report of the general
| board is as follows:
"In compliance with the oral order
| of the Secretary of the Navy to ex-
| press it's opinion at the earliest prac.
| ticable date as to policy whicE
should govern the development of the
| navy and a building program. the
general board reports as follows:
POLICY.
| The navy of the United States
| should ultimately be equal to the
| nation of the world. 1t should Le
| gradually increased to this point by
such a rate of development. year by
year, as may be permitted by the IA
| cilities OF the country, but the limit
| above defined should be attained moi
| later than 1925.
| I'm pursuance of this policy. aud
having in mind the present facilities
Of this country, the board is of the