The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-10-15
new FLEET IN FIVE
YEARS IS PROGRAM
Fifteen Fighting Ships, Sub
marines, Cruisers and
DeStrOyerS.
MORE SAILORS FOR NAVY.
Intends to Make Naval Program
Administration Measure.

twenty fighting ships OF the dread
naught and battlecruiser type with a
proportionate number of seagoing
submarines. coast submarines. scout
cruisers. destroyers and auXiliaries
enough to make new lleet-is con-
templated by Secretary Daniels for
recommendation as five year build
ing program for the United States
navy.
President Wilson and Secretary
Daniels have discussed informally
the needs of the navy and are agreed
that in order to be adequately pre-
pared for defense the presen;
strength of the fleet must be almost
doubled in the next five years, with
the addition of many Of the latest
type of fast and powerful fighting
craft
Details as to numbers have not
yet been finally worked out. but the
idea of fixing a ratio for Continu-
ing program over a period of five
years is the base principle upon
which the general board of the navy
and Secretary Daniels are planning
their recommended ations. Another
conference between the President
INr;.l
at which thu total number probably
will be fixed.
The five-year naval program when
completed would add in addition to
dreadnaughts and battlecruisers near
ly 100 submarines. about 20 destroy
ers and several scout cruisers and
proportionate number of fuel and
hospital ships.
gram, too, will be a proposal for a
large. increase in personnel. Appro-
priation for at least 5000 additional
men will be asked for the first year
to make up present deficiencies. and
an adequate number will be sought
to man the new ships built in the
five-year period.
The total cost of the proposed pro-
present plans, is estimated at nearly
SPAS, 600, 900 or about $1OO.0O0,0OG
increase over last year Just what
construction should he provided fol
Il
:nmed. AS to the approximate num- :
her of ships the fleet should have at
the end of five years, however, Of /
fCerS of the general board and Sec |.
"",ary Daniels are unders; ,od to be
in thorough accord.
1t is considered probable that the .
construction program for the frs
year will exceed that of succeeding
years in order that urgent defic,on- .
cies may be filed promptly. The .
general board has been consistently
recommending four battleships a /
year but last year only three were
provided for. The previous year only .
one battleship was granted. The .
general boards original plan of hav-
ing fleet Of As first-class battleships |
by 1920 consequently has suffered /
materially.
1t is understood that President /
Wilson intends to discuss the naval ,
program in his annual message anG. !
TO make of it an administration |
measure. The building program last
year provided for 16 submarines, Sc
that the total of the undersea craft
built and building is 10. Although
effective means of combating under
sea warfare apparently have been
found in Europe it is the purpose o.
me navy department to recommend
at least 30 submarines for next wear.
so as to furnish an adequate number
Tor defensive purpose. In the next
-FOUR years, however. an average of
16 submarines year, a few of which
would be fleet submarines. would be
maintained. That would bring the
total to about ITO in five years.
1t is not known as yet what the
plans OF the navy are for the organi-
zation of the new feet, but the gen
eral belief in naval quarters is that
the plan of having a fleet in the Pa
cific will figure materially in the new
program.