Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-18
WILSON PLANNING NAVY
SECOND ONLY TO ENGLAND
If Congress Agrees, Five Years VIII
See This Country in Posi-
ton of Power.
WORLDS FIGURES COMPARED
Program Calls for Appropriation
Which Will Approximate for First
Time Great Britain's Expenditures
In Period Just Before War.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.1 !


WASHINGTON, October 17-If Con-
gress agrees to the naval construction
plan which President Wilson intends
to recommend, the annual increase in
mate. for the first time. the annual
construction of Great Britain in the
period Just preceding the war AT the
end OF five years the navy OF the United
States will be second only to that of
Great Britain, unless Germany has
made far greater advances during the
war than the information in possession
of the naval intelligence office indi-
Gates.
EUROPEAN BUDGETS IN
LAST YEAR OF PEACE
The latest figures obtainable for
European nations are dated July /,
1914 They show that the annual bud
gets OF the principal nations at that
time were: Great Britain, $3.50. 900, 900;
France. $123.Oo0.ooo: Germany. s112,-
100000. AT the same date the budget
for the United States in round num-
bcrs, according to figures compiled by
Assistant Secretary OF the Navy Roose-
welt. aggregated s146.70o.0o0. The
best information obtainable at the
Navy Department shows that the
amounts set aside for new construc-
ton were as follows:
Great Britain, sS4.ooo,ooo: Germany.
s51,ooo,ooo; France, s5S.ooo, 900: United
States. s41.ooo,ooo.
President Wilson's program for the
coming session OF Congress calls for an
appropriation Of about $4,000, 900. of
u-h
struction. This will be an increase
over the amount appropriated by Great
Britaln for new vessels In the last
year of peace. 1t will be an increase
OF S0.000.000 over the usual annual
building program of the American
navy. With this money the general
board of the navy proposes to begin
as its first years building program,
TWO Dreadnoughts, two battle cruisers
three scout cruisers. five sca-E going sub
marines capable OF accompanying the
grand fleet anywhere: twenty five coast
defense submarines. fifteen destroyers,
two gunboats, one hospital ship and
one fuel ship. Provision will be made
also for 5000 additional enlisted men
and an annual increase of $50 In tho
students at the Naval Academy.
PRINCIPAL NAyIEs
OF WORLD COMPARED
In ships built. building and au-
thorized, the standing of the principal
navies on July |, 1914. was as follows:
super noushts-England, 36:
Germany. 20; United States, 1e;
France, IL.
attleships-England. 40: Germany,
20: United States, %; France. is.
Battle cruisers-England, 10: Ger
many, 8; United States and France.
none.
Armored cruisers-EnEland, "a: Ger.
many. Q: United States. IL France. 90
Cruisers-England, a1; Germany, 40;
United States. IA; France. ..
Observation-Disclosures ISIS: Germany.
l54; United States. 81: France, 81.
Torpedo -boats-EnEland 40; Ger
many. none: United States. IS;
France. las.
Submarines--Engla land. Of Germany,
As; United States. 40; France. Sc.
When the program has been carried
out that the President Will initiate this
year, the United States Navy will con-
sist of the following:
Super DrcadnouGhts. %: battle cruis
ers. TO- battleships of the second line,
%; cruisers. armored and unarmored.
80; submarines. 135: destroycrs. 10.
THIS COUNTRY MORE Liberal
THAN OTHER NATIONS
Statistics compiled by Assistant
Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt show
that the United States spends over 30
per cent Of its total annual naval ap-
preparations for pay. active and re-
tired and pensions. against % per cent
In Great Britain; IL per cent in Ger
many, and l6 per cent in France
In the item of subSistence clothing
and medical care, this country is more
liberal than others. According to Mr..
Roosevelt. Il battleship costing $4,000
600 In the United States can be built
for $is,5o0,0o0 in England and for
about &la.ooo,ooo In Franco or Germany,