Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1915-12-09
Comprehensive PLAN
FOR GREATER NAVY,

run 0nGH Eli NAV :
AI~ays Lsslssd to II as Our First and
chisf Line Of Defense.
The program which will hr laid BE-
r.Irs you BY the secretary of the navy
b similarly conceived. 1t involves only
q shortening of the time within which
plans long matured shall be- carried
eut, but Il does make definite and ex'
plicit q program which has heretofore
been only implicit, held IL The minds OF
The committees on nava! affairs and
disclosed IN the debates Of tie two
houses. but nowhere formulated Or for
malay adopted. 1t seems to me very
clear that It will be to the advantage
oS the country for the congress to adopt
q comprehensive plan for putting the
navy upon q nnal footing Of strength
and efficiency and to press that plan
to completion within the next five
years. We have always looked to the
navy Of the country aS our first and
chief line Of defense; we have always
seen Il 10 be our manifest course OF
prudence TO be strong on the seas
fear by year we have been creating a
aayy which now ranks very high In.
deed among the navies OF the maritime
,Hationa. We should now ,l":in!I"iy de.
ternins how we shall Complete what
We have begun and how soon
The program to be laid before you
contemplates the construction within
dvs years Of ten battleships, six battle
cruisers. ten scout cruisers. fifty de
str0yers. fifteen feet .,:,aarines,
eighty I've coast submariAcs, four gun
boats, one hospital shi, iwo ammnul
ZION ships, two fuel oil Ships end one
repair ship II is proposal li!!! of this
Humbsr we shall the first year p.Vride
for the construction Of two battleships.
two battle cruisers. three scout cruisers,
ofteen destroyers, 6ve feet submarines.
twenty-five coast submarines. two gun
beats and one hospital ship; the second
year two battleships. one scout cruiser,
ten destroyes, four feet submarines.
6fteen coast submarines. ono @unboat
and one fuel oil ship: the Third year
two battleships. one battle cruiser, two
scout cruisers. Ave destroyers, two feet
submarines and fifteen coast suhma
rines: tho fourth year two hattleShirs.
two battle cruisers. two sc0us "rI'"ers.
ten destroyers. two fleet submarines.
6fteeA coast submarines. one ammuni'
tion ship and one fuel oil ship, and
the nfth year two battieships. one bat
tie cruiser, two scout cruisers ten de-
atroyers, two feet subIutri""s. f;.ccn
coast submarines. one gunhoa!. ~" am
munitlon ship and one repair ship
Ths secretary Of the navy Is asking
also for the immediate addition to the
personnel Of the navy of 1900 sailors.
2.50o apprentice seamen and l.5o0 ma.
rines This increase would he Sufti
cient to care for the ships which are
to he completed within tho n<cal year
1917 and also for the number Of men
which must be put in trainin" tn man
he ships which will he completed
early In 1918. II Is also nocr&>ary that
he number Of midshipmen at the Ma
val academy at Annapolis should be
increased by at least 300 In order to-
the force Of officers should be more
rapidly added TO. and authority ,s nsk.
"a to appoint. for engineering duties
snly. approved graduates OF engineer.
Tag colleges. and for service II the MI
alton corps certain number Of men
taken from civil life.
II this full program should he carried
ont He should have built or building in
1921. according to the estimates of sur
vival and standards Of classification
followed by the general board Of the
aepartment, an effective navy consist.
Ing Of - buttlcShipS Of tll@ "!'t line.
battle cruisers. % battirShiii> of the
ss:unl line. 10 armOrrd cruisers. IL
scout cruises. first class cruisers, )
second class cruisers. ~ th,iI class
cruisers. les destroyers. IS llp;t sub
u,alfnes, 157 coast submarines. nI'n
itors, 20 gunjoats, supply ships, 10
fuel ships. 1 transports. 8 tenuers to
torpedo vessels. 8 vessels oi special
types and two ammunition %'.i,. Lis
would be navy fitted IA oHT n"rdS
and worthy Of our traditions.
But aimies and Instruments III w&T
are only part of what has t. l." e n
sidered ir We are 10 c,lr:: i"T ;i.' 81
prene matter of natiorai ..';i s.;;i '"i
ey and security in ~ its aspects.
There are other great matters which
Will be thrust upon our attention
whether we will or not. There is. for
example. very pressing question of
trade and shipping involved in this
great problem Of national adequacy
u u necessary for many weigLty rea
soos Of national efficiency and deyGl.
epment that We should hav" Il great
merchant marine. The great i. r:tham
6eet we once used to max" Us rich.
that great body of sturdy sailor; wha
used to carry our la% into circy S,9.
and who were the pride ard eli i the
bulwark Of the na;iCn. We i.:.'y ;..''''%.
driven out Of existence by lick ,usaC.c
neglect and indifference and by u hope