New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-13
Republicans Scent Trick in
Five-Year Building
Programme.
WANTS SENIORITY
RULE ABOLISHED
$500, 100000 Asked For in Re-
pOrt-l1,000 Men Needed
for New Ships.
Erorn lie TYibune Burear

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE feature of
the report OF Secretary of the Navy
Daniels, made public to-day, is the rec
ommendation that Congress practically
commit itself to building programme
extending over period of five years
and calling for appropriations OF
about S500,000,OoO. The details of
the report, which have already been
published In large part. include recon-
mends:ions for several new types Of
wsrships. including 100 new subma-
rines, fifteen Of the fleet type and
eighty-ivc underwater coast defence
vessels; battle cruisers carrying
armament almost as effective as
dreadnought, but having far greater
speed; and fast scout cruisers capable
of bearing 14-inch guns.
The presentation of this repor; to
Congress is expected 20 open bitter
fight. Republican members of both
houses, though in general agreement
with the principle Of a continuing pro-
gramme that will make possible q pro
Gressive development of the navy, at
tack Secretary Daniels for INTRODUCING
the proposal on the eve Of Prcsidaa-
tisl and Congressional campaign. They
are asking why Secretary Daniels did
not recommend this legislation last
year or the year before, when the major
part Of it could have been accomplished
under the Wilson administration.
The Secretary's belated inspiration,
they believe, has an eye to next years
campaign, when the Democrats will
ask the country 10 return them 10
power for the purpose of carrying to
completion the ive-year naval pro-
gramme which they originated.
Another question that is expected to
prove a poser for the Secretary is how
he arrived at the lump sum figure of
$500, 900 900 which he proposes to spend
for new construction during the next
! FIVE years. without directly saying so,
he strives to create the impression. that
/ his recommendations are strictly in &C
cord with those of the General Board
of the navy. Of which Admiral Dewey is
president. From previous annual re-
ports of the General Board, however,
! Congressman are loath TO believe the
board would consider the Secretary's
Recommendations adequate. All that
I Secretary Daniels says in plain Ian
guage is that he consulted the board
on the question Of the distribution
Of the s5oo,Oo0,O0O.
Daniels Increases Estimates.
The report shows that for the first
time in the history OF the department
the Secretsry's recommendations in
crease the expenditures proposed by
the General Board. in this connection
the Secretary says:
"My recommendation OF tve-year
programme embraces the same number
as proposed by the General Board in
the distribution il made in the five
wear programme of dreadnoughts. bat
/ lie cruisers. scouts and destroyers. |
recommend fifteen feet submarines
where the General Board recommends
nine, and | recommend eighty-five coast
submarines as against ffty-eight rec
commended by the General Board.
"For additional reserve ammunition
nv recommendation is S25,OOO,OOO,
whereas the General Board recommends
$1,000 900 They recommend some
| thing more for other craft. Ny total