The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-08-25
Ships need SPEED
BATTLE CRUISERS NEEDED By
AMERICAN NAVY
MUST have SUBMARINES

Daniels Outlines Admins
tration's Naval Program-Aero-
nautic Forces to be increased
General Board Stays in Washing
ton to Study Problems.
Increased speed in battleships, an
increase in the number Of submers-
ible craft as larfe as the building ca
pacity of the country will allow, and
an increase in the material and per-
sonnel OF the aeronautic force Of the
navy are the three points of next
years naval program upon which
Mr.. Daniels, secretary Of the navy,
laid greatest stress in an interview
granted to the New York Herald.
Mr.. Daniels says that the advinis-
tration wants to do more than mere
ly recommend an adequate naval
program; that it wants to get such
program authorized by congress, that
to this end President Wilson will con-
fer with the chairmen OF the House
and Senate naval affairs committees
and that the navy department will co..
operate closely with the legislative
branch of the government.
Pending the. completion of the de-
liberations Of the General Board
which is now holding summer ses-
sions through Washington's intense
heat, in order to meet President Will
sons demand for statement on pre-
paredness by September i, Mr. Dan
iels declined to divulge his recon-
mendations regarding the number Of
battleships, for which he will ask
congress at the coming session.
II can say, however," added Mr..
Daniels, ''that as result Of the
lessons Of the present great war
speed will not be sacrificed to
either armor or gum power in the
battleships to be designed for the
coming program"
This is radical change in Ameri-
can naval policy. Heretofore the
United States has remained unafect-
ed by the great increases in speed
developed in foreign nayies in capi-
tai ships.
Now it appears that the United
States also is going in for fast battle
cruisers and high speed in its first
line battleships.
4. statement of equal importance
made by Mr.. Daniels was that he
will recommend probably as many
| submarines as the ship construc-
ton plants Of the country can take
care of.
"For the first time in years the.
general board is remaining in ses-
sion in Washington throughout the
| summer" said Secretary Daniels,
instead of going to Newport as has
| been the custom The board, Of
which Admiral George Dewey is the,
head, through its executive commit
tee, of which Rear Admiral Charles
J. Badger is chairman, is giving care
full consideration to all that has been
learned from the great war which.
will affect the naval program Of the
coming year.
.sThis board is in possession of all
| information pertinent to the subject
/ which has been received by the de-
| partment and cannot, for obvious
| reasons, while their conclusions are
still unmatured, make any statement
as to what either the board or the
department is likely to recommend to
| congress in the fall.
There are, I may say, three
phases of naval equipment which are
being especially considered by the
General Board. First, the element
of speed During the last Few years
| other nations have constructed pow
erful vessels, possessing high rates Of
speed as well as smaller vessels de-
igned to specially for speed.
"In order to provide for the in
! creased speed it was necessary to
sacrifice either gunpower or armor
and in most instances both.
"Our navy has adhered to the
principle that ships should be heavily
| armored and possessing the maxi
mum of gunpowder. But in making
| impregnable vessels of this type
speed had to be sacrificed. In the
| design of vessels which are now un-
der consideration, speed will be sac
rifced to no other element.
.'The second phase regards aero
nautics. The European war has
conclusively demonstrated the I'M
portance of aerial service In all
military establishments. Their
ability to divert surprise attacks
can hardly be over-estimated.
unfortunately we are not 50
strong in this respect as one might
desire. We are, however, progress
! ing and within the last few years
| our equipment has been enlarged and
the number of pilots gradually in
| creased.
"The last congress approved OF my
| selection, which was recommended
! by a broad of naval officers of the
abandoned Pensacola navy yard as
an aviation station, and during the
| last winter in the vicinity of this sta
ton we had important exercises ID
which the submarines and mine lay
| ers have worked with the air craft.
Our principle trouble in aeronautlcs
has been to obtain a suitable motor.
Just before the outbreak Of the war
in Europe we had placed an order
for two foreign aircraft, one in
France and one in Germany, but, Of
course, we have been unable to OBJ
tain delivery.
"Submarines-the last congress
authorized the construction Of sea-
going submarines Of the Schley type,
which to the best of our information