Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-12-25

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hut the limit above OWNED should be at
tanned not later than 1873.
q. In pursuance of this policy and
having IN mind the present facilities OF
this country, the board IL OF the opinion
that tho following addition To the naval
establishment should be authorized this
year ana recommends the same for your
consideration. This addition is believed
by tho board TO be within. and practic-
ally at the limit OF. the facilities at pres
ent existlnS:.s
Auxiliary shfps Wanted.
-Four battle cruisers. four dread
nauehts, six scouts. thirty coast sub
marines, seven fleet submarines twenty
eight destroyers, six gun boats.
aAuxsilaries: one destroyer tender,
two fleet submarine tenders, four fuel
oil ships, one supply ship on transport
one hospital skip. one repair ship one
ammunition ship.
;, Aircraft service: 100000.
Personnel 1900 men. This numoer
viii provide for the needs OF the presens
ships OF the navy. including those near
completion, but Il must be borne In mind
that the personnel. commissioned and en-
listed win have TO be further Increased
a. the new construction progresses,
,.Increased facilities for the navy yards
and shore establishments generally, such
a dry docks. berthing space, building
sims. structural shops. cranes for ham
dllng heavy weights. shop machinery
sinn,nition and other storage facilities,
elvit personnel, ese.
tteiwnedl GEORGE DEWEY"
FfRarea Criticised.
ssecretary Daniels5 recommendation TO
eongress that the enlisted personnel OF
the navy DO increased by 1850 blue
1aekefs. 1850 apprentice seamen and
1.be marines during the years 1851
a order 70 man ships nearing completion
was based. It was disclosed also to-
nikht, upon the annual report OF Rear
Admiral Victor Blue. chief Of the bureau
al navigation. now made public. The
firurea have been criticized in congress
ana elsewhere because they we're below
those Of the general board. There were
6a.eB blue jackets IN the service october
!. 1913. Admiral Blues report shows. and
With his proposed increase including the
apprentice seamen. the force would num-
Der o1,oss In 1917. or about i.ioo less than
Rocommended by the general board.
Admiral Blue states that he bases his
estimate on a report from the board
IN November 1914 which holds that all
hAttleships under IL years old. half the
cruisers and all gunboats and necessary
auxlilariea should be kept In full com
mission. the remaining ships 10 be held
in reserve with nucleus crews. Should
congress authorize an increase OF b.5OC
men, he says. there would be In full
commission July /. 1917. twenty-five hat
tIeships. five armored cruisers. twelve
eruisers. fifty-two destroyers. twenty-sis
guBboats. fifty-six submarines and ths
requisite Auxlllarieu.
4 Craft ia Reserve.
Ia reserve would be seventeen battle
ships. over Is years old. five armorct
cruisers. eleven cruisers. sixteen destroy
eEs nineteen old torpedo boats and foul
tenders.
The difference between the genera
board figures OF the necessary minimum
strength for 1877 and those OF Admira
Blue probably lies IN the fact that "A
Inirai Fletcher. commanding the Atianti
fleets has urged an Increase In the com
plement OF each hattieship. Admire
Blue says this has not been done be
rause Il would necessltate putting NOR
rhlps IN reserve for lack OF men.