The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1915-12-08

or the country for the congress to adopt
a comprehensive plan for putting the
navy upon a final footing Of strength
and efficiency and to, press that plan
to completion within the next five
years. We have always looked to the
navy of the country as our first and
chief line of defense; we have always
seen it to be our manifest course of
prudence to be strong on the seas.
Year by year we have been creating 8
navy which now ranks very high in
deed among the navies of the maritime
nations. We should now definitely de-
termine how we shall complete what
we have begun and how soon.
The program to be laid before you
five years of ten battleships, six battle
cruisers, ten scout cruisers, fifty de-
stroyers, fifteen feet submarines.
eighty-five coast submarines. four gun
boats, one hospital ship, two ammuni-
ton ships. two fuel oil ships and one
repair ship. 1t is proposed that of this
number we shall the first year provide
for the construction of two battleships,
two battle cruisers, three scout cruisers,
fifteen destroyers, five fleet submarines.
twenty-five coast submarines, two gun
boats and one hospital ship; the second
year two battleships, one scout cruiser,
ten destroyers, four fleet submarines,
fifteen coast submarines, one gunboat
and one fuel oil ship; the third year
two battleships, one battle cruiser two
scout cruisers, five destroyers, two fleet
submarines and fifteen coast subma-
rines; the fourth year two battleships,
two battle cruisers, two scout cruisers,
ten destroyers, two fleet submarines,
fifteen coast submarines, one ammuni-
ton ship and one fuel oil Ship and
the fifth year two battleships, one bat
tie cruiser, two scout cruisers. ten de-
stroyerS, two fleet submarines, fifteen
coast submarines, one gunboat, one am
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 1900 ma
AAhCo' lilo ihNl~GoC hpulu Dc Sulll-
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 800 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 avn
alton corps a certain number of nell
taken from civil life
If this full program should be carried
out we should have built or building in
1921. according to the estimates of STIR
vival and standards Of classification
followed by the general board of Che
department, an effective navy consist
ing of 81 battleships of the first line,
battle cruisers, % battleships of the
second line. 10 armored cruisers. ID
scout cruisers, first class cruisers, 3
second class cruisers. 10 third class
cruisers, 1oS destroyers, 1Sahect sub
marines, 157 coast submarines, 6 mon
itors, 20 gunboats. supply ships. 10
fuel ships. transports, 3 tenders to
torpedo vessels, 8 vessels of special
types and two ammunition ships. This
would be a navy fitted to our needs
and worthy of our traditions.
But armies and instruments of war
are only part of what has to be con-
Sidered il we are to consider the SUI
preme matter of national self sufficen-
cy and security in all its aspects.
There are other great matters which
will be thrust upon our attention
whether we will or not. There is. for
example. q very pressing question of
trade and shipping involved in this
great problem Of national adequacy.
1t is necessary for many weighty req
sons of national efficiency and devcl,
opment that we should have great
merchant marine. The great merchant
fleet we once used to make us rich,
ludC SIcdt BUbN VI SlGIuI SdIlOES W no
used to carry our flag into every sea.
and who were the pride and often the
bulwark of the nation. we have almost
driven out of existence by iuexcusab!e
neglect and Indifference and by a hope
lessly blind and provincial policy of
so called economic protection. 1t is
high time we repaired our mistake and
resumed our commercial Independence
on the seas.
With a view to meeting these press
ing necessities of our commerce and
aTailing ourselves at the earliest posi-
bic moment Of the present unparalleled
opportunity of linking the two Ameri-
cas- together III bonds of mutual inter
est and service. an opportunity which
may never return again if we miss 1t
now, proposals will be made to the
present congress for the purchase or
construction of ships to be owned and
directed by the government similar to
those made to the last congress, but
modified in some essential particulars.
l recommend these proposals to you
for your prompt acceptance with the
more confidence because every month
that has elapsed since the former pro-
posals were made has made the ne
cessity for such action more and more
r1anifpStlv iY1uarafiyn That mood yFos