Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-02
NAVY DEFENSE NEEDS
WILL BE CONSIDERED Z
BYPRESIDElNT MONDAY
Secretary Daniels Expected b
Ask for Four New Battle
ships at Conference
With Wilson
MORE AIRsHIPs WANTED

WASHINGTON. Oct 2-The first =,
the conferences on national defense
which are expected 90 revolutionize ~,
military policy of the United States win
be held at the White House next Mon
day, when the need of a stronger nav
viii be considered. This VIII be the nrst
discussion of this subject between Pres,-
dent Wilson and Representative PadRett
chairman OF the House Committee on
Naval Affairs. It Is considered OF IN.
greatest moment, as In Mr.. Padrett,s
committee must originate all mean,rrs
for raising the additional revenues neoes.
sary for a preparedness program.
Participating in this conference will n.
Secretary Daniels and probably Rear IA.
miral Benson, Chief of Operations. Mr.
Daniels said today that he has not ves
settled upon the program he will ask Mr. ,
Wilson to approve. 1t is known, how
ever, that strong pressure is being ex.
erted upon the Secretary by the Naval
General Board, headed by Admiral
Dewey, for four battleships. From All
sides the necessity for additional swift. :
moving craft of the battle cruiser type
is being urged. That there will be
great increase in numbers of submarines
is forecast everywhere I'm naval circles
When Secretary Daniels faced a crowd
of 15O persons the other day at the OPEN
ing of submarine bids, where previously
a dozen or so only had been in attends
ance, he observed:
This is a sure indication that subma-
rines are more popular than they used %
be-"
Some close observers freely predict that
the new program will call for 100 sub
mersibles. some 25 more than now are in
commission.
A liberal allowance for aircraft will pe
sought. The last Congress blazed the
way for the development. of an air fleet
by appropriating 81, 900 900. 1t is likely that
the forthcoming program will call for the
expenditure of four or tive times that
amount. As to increase in personnel 1t
is thought that about 10000 additional
men will be sought. of whom 1000 will be
given TO the marine corps.
In the near future President Wilson win
hold a similar conference with Secretary
Garrison and Chairman Hay of the House
Military Affairs Committee, when the
needs of the new army will be given con-
sideration. ENi
Secretary of War Garrison and Secre-'
tary of the Navy Daniels have received
series of reports from munitions fac
tories in all sections of the country,
showing their capacity for turning out
guns, cartridges and other implements Of
war.
These figures were presented to the
departments with the understanding that
they should not be made public. For.
this reason il was impossible today TO
get an accurate outline of the increased
capacities during the last year. 1t is
understood however, that there has been
an average increase of approximately
1000 per cent. in many of the plants.
Ordnance experts now appear to be
satisfied that the United States has no
reason to fear that the national defense
would be weakened by shortage Of
munitions in the event of war.
The figures collected by both depart-
ments have been tabulated and will be
| presented to President Wilson with the
reports Of the Secretaries, s-s =