Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-08
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
FOR GREATER NAVY.
Always Looked TO It as Our First and
Chief Line Of Defense.


Chief Line Of Defense.
Tie program which vii! be laid be
fore YOU by the secretary of the navy
is similarly conceived. 1t involves only
i shortening of the time within which
plaus long matureI shall be carried
cut, but it does make definite and ex
piicit a programs which has heretofore
been only Implicit. held III the minds Of
tie committees on naval affairs and
disclosed in the debates OF the TWO
houses. bat nowhere formulated or for
mai!y aGOi,tcG. II seems 70 me very
clear that it will he to the adyanta -e
OF the country fer the congress to adopt
a comprehensive plan toi putting the
navy upon Il Gu@i footing OF strength
and efficiency ard 70 press that plan
to completion within the next Gyc
years We ave always looked TO the
navy of the country as our first ana
chief line Of defense: We have always
seen it TO be our manifest course Of
prudence 20 he strong on the seas.
Year by year We nave been rreata:, IL
iHN ' w men tilN il.-AN wa i1ls,4i i1I
deed among tie M yies Of the maritime
nations We should now definitely De
ternac how We shall complete what
We nave begun and how soon
The program - be laid before yoU
contcmDlltcS the construction within
five years Of ten battIeships. six battle
cruisers. ten scout cruisers. fifty De
stroyerS. fifteen feet submarines.
eicLty-G~c coast Submarines. four gun
boats. one hospital ship. two &inl1Eni-
ton ships. tTo fuel oil ships and one
repair ship. 1t is proposed hat OF this
number We shall the first year provide
for the construction OF ivy" hattieS!lips.
Two battle cruisers. three scout cruisers.
fifteen d"str0yc:%. FIVE feet submarines.
twenty-five coast Submarines. two Gun
boats and O.:r hospital ship: the second
rear two hatjlcsliVs. one scout cruiser.
ten GcStru-ers. four feet Submarines.
fifteen coast submarines. one -unhoat
and one s"pl oil ship: the Third year
two battle hips. one battle cruiser. two
scout cruisers, I've ,,cstroyers. two fleet
submarines ard fifteen coast subma-
rines; the fourth year two battleships.
two battle cruisers. two scout cruisers.
ten GestroyerS. two feet Submarines.
fifteen coast submarines. one ammuIi-
ton ship and ere fCei OF ship, and
the fifth year two battlpshiDs. one bat
tie cruiser. two scout cruisers. ton de-
stro-ers. two feet submarines. fifteen
coast submarines. one cunboat. one an
munition ship and one repair ship.
The secretary Of the navy is asking
also for the immediate addition to the
personnel of the navy OF 1900 sailors.
$500 apprentice Seamen and 1850 ma
rineS. This increase would be sutfl-
cient to care for the ships which are
to be completed within the fiscal year
1917 and also for the number Of men
which must be put in training to man
the ships which will be completed
early in 1918. 1t is also necessary that
the number Of midshipmen at the Ma
val academy at Annapolis should be
increased by at least 500 in order that
the force Of officers should be more
rapidly added to. and authority is ask
ed to appoint, for engineering duties
only. approved graduates of engineer
ing colleges, and for service in the avi-
alton corps a certain number OF men
taken from civil life