New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-13

for the five years Is $500, 4s2,214. The
General Boards total is s499,676,OOO, a
very slight difference for the five years,
though the boards recommendation foT
the Krst year is much larger than the
departments estimate"
IN one important particular Secretary
Daniels differed from the General
Board. Tho Secretary says:
"The General Board was called upon
for advice in this connection, and the
department has accepted its recommen-,
dstions as regards numbers of capital
ships. As regards their distribution
over a fye-year period, II was conclud-
ed, in view Of all the circumstances,
that il would he best to make this as
nearly uniform as might be. lnis
course has obvious practical advantages
particularly in view OF the present con
gested condition of the shipbuildlng IN
dustry In this country.
Moreover, since the maximum rate
Of expenditure upon the capital SHIPS
which take some years 70 build IN any
case, will not be reached Immediately
il enables US 20 concentrate more al
first upon submarines and other dulckIy
built craft, so that we will get earlier
returns for our expenditure IN the
shape Of completed vessels
Difference with General Board.
The Secretary calls attention to the
fact that he established a precedent
last year in making public the report
Of the General Board, which he will
follow this year at later date. The
result, he says, is certain 10 arouse
discussion as between the reeommends-
tons of the board and OF the Secre-
tary, but adds:
But discussion makes for knowl-
edge and a wise decision. The General
Board is Influenced b. its profession
al views, while ne administration
takes into consideration the whole ma
tional policy and does not overlook the
question Of national revenues"
Following will he the composition OF
the feet in 1921, built or building, II
the programme is carried out accord
Ing 20 the General Boards calcula-
tions, the Secretary says:
Battleships, first line, %; battle
cruisers, 6; battleships. second line.
25: armorcd cruisers, 10; scOU,
cruisers. 10; cruiser first class, .;
cruisers. second class. 8; cruisers.
third class, 10; destroyers, los; feet
submarines, -; coast submarines, l51;
monitors, 8; gunboats, 20; supply
ships, ! fuel ships, 10; transports, 4;
tenders 10 torpedo vessels, 3; special
types, g. ammunition ships. ,
Urging the necessity OF a continuing
building programme. the Secretary
says II is the "sures. way 20 raise the
standard of naval efficiency" and tina,
little is 20 be gained b. adden iluc:u-
atioas in policy"
Submarines Lose in Favor.
IF a vote had been taken a few
months ago." he adds, "ss TO types of
ships TO be constructed, a large ma
jOrity Of the peopl. would doubtless
have voted TO go into building sub
marines on r scale so large as TO leave
little money for other fighting craft.
Recently in navy circles the pendulum
may be said TO have swung away from
an overlarge undersca programme,
with emphasis again placed upon the
dreadnought."
OF the ilve-year programme recon-
mended the Secretary says: 81 hope
Congress will indorse it by so large a
vote Of its member as TO make GER
tain its continuance by Congresses to
come"
The full total Of the navy budget
for the year is s2l7,652,174, all but
1882 .280,047 Of which will 90 for ships
now under construction or TO be au-
thorized. The remainder contemplate
the increased personnel and general
running expenses Of The navy afoat
and ashore.
an comparison with the enormous
expenditures abroad" the Secretary
writes, "the large expenditure is nee
essary j. our feet is 10 be able 10 en-
force American policies. The lesson
of the European war warns us that il
is better to spend Honey in times OF
peace for preparation than to run the
risk, however remote. of sorely want
ing ships and munitions if suddenly
needed"
The Secretary comments at length
on the need Of battle cruisers of the
proposed thirty-fve-knot type. The
events Of the European war are re-
counted 20 show the part these craft
| have played. As 10 the battleships OF
the future. the Secretary says the suG-
gested vessels are Of much greater dis
| placement and heavier armament than
anything heretofore contemplated. The
department is now discussing ships OF
$4,000 tong, armed with l6-inch. or
perhaps 17-inch, guns. The Secretary
says the plan has not yet been ap-
proved, but his estimates are based
on ships TO cost s1S,0O0,0 900 each, which
would allow for the increased size.
Wants Seniority Rule Abolished.
Secretary Daniels takes another rad
ical step in urging that che present
system Of promotion Of officers By
seniority be abandoned in favor OF
promotion by selection. He goes al
length into the results Of the seniority
system TO find that it produces stag
nation in the lower grades, arrival at