Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-10-14
A FIVE YEAR PROGRAM
OUTLINED BY SECRtT TARY
Congress May be Asked to Auth
Orize Construction Of As Dread
naughts by 1920.
TO PUT U. S. NAVY AHEAD.
Lessons Learned From European War
---MOdeEn Program Outlined by
Secretary Daniels

The European wars contribution to
the science of naval warfare have been
summed up by the General Board of
the Navy and will figure largely in the
construction program which Secretary
Of the Navy Daniels will recommend to
Congress at the coming session.
These contributions were discussed
yesterday by Mr.. Daniels in confirming
the report printed in the New York Sun
to the effect that he would propose a
flve-year construction program instead
of a annual piece-meal plan OF
strengthening the naval establishment.
At the same time the Secretary gave
clear idea of the lighting strength OF
the navy in terms oil dreadnalghts rs
it will be developed by 1920 II his pro-
posals are accepted by Congress. He
did not indicate the number of big
ships which he will ask for, but out
lined in a general way what the coun-
try might expect i'm naval protection.
If his building program is approved.
1t was IN this connection the Sec
retary pointed out the lessons of value
which the American Navy has learned
Of the European war. These may be
grouped as follows: The use of sub
marines as offensive weapons: the ne
cesity of aircraft; the strength of the
dreadnaught: the value of swift ves-
sells, whether of scout or cruiser class:
the effectiveness OF big guns.
These Mr.. Daniels summarized as
the facts developed in Europe within
the last fifteen months, which every
naval expert has grasped and recog-
nized as guides for hte future plans Of
the American Navy Since the war
abroad began naval attaches, con
structors and ordnance specialists have
been studying both the9oGensive and
defensive work of the belligerent ma
vies. They have been eager TO appro-
priatte any idea of value which has
been established. q
Every modern war has been studied
in the same fashion by neutral as we'll
as belligerent governments and every
war for the last sixty years, has been
marked by great developments in naval
science. TheNCivil War gave to the
world the first IRON ship. The war with
Spain demonstrated the necessity for
long-range guns. The Russo-Japanese
war was the first in which smokeless
powder and heavy armor played a most
successful part.
AS result of the conflict abroad the
next naval program of this Govern
ment will be the most modern ever
conceived by this or any other govern
ment. The fact that the United States
is now at peace and is financially and
otherwise able to build what it pleases
gives this country an opportunity to
push its navy perhaps two years ahead
of any other now afioat.
This does not mean that the Admin
istration has any idea of asking Con-
gress for enough money to outstrip
Great Britain in the number of ships,
but it expects enough money to give
| the country the best-balanced and most
up-to-date navy in the world. This is
the object of the Daniels five-year pro-
| gram and is the hope of the best naval
authorities in the Government service.
In commenting informally upon his
program, the Secretary said that he
| had finally concluded that the recon-
mendation of the General Board for a
| five-year program, recommendation
made repeatedly in years past, was the
| best that could be desired. II had
been reported in some quarters that a
ten-year plan was favored by the Sec
/ retary, but this he denied.
At the end of such period-that is
| by 1920, the General Board has urged
| that the navy may have forty-eighi
battleships of the first line. either built
| or authorized. Mr. Daniels has not
admitted that he has adopted this rec
| ommendation with respect TO the num-
ber OF ships, but he has indicated that
his own plan is not far different. Ht
said that by 1922. if no other dread
naughts were authorized. the navy
| would have thirty vessels of that class
and that this would not be enough.
If the forty -eight-ship plan is adop-
ted by the Administration. or a plar
| approximating it, the Navy Department
will also ask for enough submarines
aircraft, scouts and armored cruisers
TO give the navy completely equipped
battle fleets on both coasts and tho
| Orient. The full details of the con.
struction program win not be announc.
ed until MIR. Daniels officially transmits
his estimates to the Secretary of the
Treasury. These are supposed to be
in by October 10. JET.