The Washington herald., 1915-12-18
BY r. b. JOHNS.

growl of discomfort At the memoran-
dunn which the Secretary Of War sent 10
the members OF the General Stan reia-
tive to giving their views to Congress
was heard at the Capitol yesterday. II
Is claimed by some Of the members OF
the Military Affairs Committees that the
lSecretary's memorandum will prevent
Congress from obtaining the uncensored
views Of army officers.
The memorandum sets forth that II was
Improper for any officer to go to a chair
man Of a military committee or a member
lof Congress and present his views or 10
act as an authorized representative OF
the War Department. The views OF ON
GERS. the Secretary insists. should be sub
mitted through the chief-of-staff to the
Secretary Of War and he Will authorize
some one to present them to Congress as
a representative of the War Department.
While the chairman of the Military
Committees realize that they have the
authority to summon officers before the
committees and ask them questions. they
insist that with this memorandum pend
ing over their heads. the witnesses will
not be free to testify. One member OF
the House Committee declares that he
will insist upon the Secretary's memoran-
dun being submitted to the committees.
80 that Congress will be advised as to
under wnat conuitions inc fHeHoStS VI
the General StafY will appear before the
committee.
The inability OF the Nevy Department
to securenthe construction. at private
yards. of the battleships authorized by
the last Naval Appropriation bill. will
postpone the completion Of the two ships
about a year. II contracts had been let
to private concerns at the usual time.
L4 IN, of
construction. but under the plans for
building them at the government yards
In New York and Mare Island. the keels
will not he laid until August o.. Septem-
ber II there should happen to be any
delay in securing material for the en-
largement Of the Mare Island yards, the
keel Of the ship to he built there will not
be laid until later next fall.
Part of this delay was due to the
postponement of the Secretary of the
Navy in taking up the plans for the
definite reports from the European war.
The larger part OF the delay. however.
will result from a disagreement with the
private concerns over the price for the
battleships. The blame cannot be laid
upon the Secretary. as the bids Of the
private ship yards were not within the
authorized appropriation.
And the prospects for the prompt build /
ing of the next years program are far
from being satisfactory. With the gen. |
eral increase In army and navy appro-
priations. the opposition to raising the |
limit of cost for battleships will be very
strong In Congress during the approach |
ing session. Congress will question the |
OF the private ship building |
concerns tina. there has been an increase |
of Sky per cent in the price of steel. |
1t Is claimed that the bids on material
for the Navy Department do not show |
this increase.
Ii Congress should follow the recon-
of the administration and \
authorize two battleships and two battle
cruisers, II is difficult to see how they |
can be completed without a years delay. |
In the event that it will be decided to
build all Of them at Government yards.
It would be necessary to enlarge the
Philadelphia and Norfolk plants. This
would only provide for half the program,
and that at considerable delay, occa-
stoned by the work that must be done
on the yards before the keels of the new
ships are laid. Where the other tive
will he built. II the private concerns do
not lower their bids or Congress does not
increase the limit Of cost. is difficult to
see. At any event. there will be some