The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-04
DANIELS POINTS
TO NAVY'S GAINS
Rapid Progress as Result of
1916 Appropriations Pre-
dicted by Secretary.
AIRCRAFT RECOGNIZED
Adherence to Fundamental Types Of
Fighting Machinery Expressed
by Congress.

The naval appropriation bill for 1915
is the most liberal measure for the in.
crease and support OF the navy, carry
ing more valuable legislation than any
naval appropriation bill ever enacted by
- Congress said Secretary Of the Navy
Daniels yesterday in answer to re.
quest for his views upon the naval ap'
preparation act.
The wisdom of tine present Congress
is shown particularly in its resistance
to attempts to discredit the navy's ma
teriel and personnel: in its adherence 10
the fundamental types of fighting ves-
sels-battleships. destrOyerS. and subma-
rines; in its recognition of aircraft and
submarines as important auXiliaries OF
warfare, and of the latter's increased ef-
hciency: in its creation of naval re-
serve; in the establishment of tine Office
OF chief of naval operations and the ranks
of admirals and vice admirals: in the
abolition of the pluckinC board: in equip
ping navy yards for the construction OF
ships and the increase in the manutac-
ture of munitions of war: in well-con-
sidered and liberal appropriations for the
needs of the service in every line.
Congress- Was Generous.
The Sixty-thrd Congress has been
ing for the navy. having authorized in
the two naval appropriation bills an en-
tire division of five DreadnOuGhts. which
will each cost in the ncigh5orhood of
81. 00,oI0: three Sea-going submarines.
which will cost S.5cO"0o each: twenty
three submarines. which will cost about
500. 900 each; twelve tOrpcdO-boat de-
stroyers, averaging in cost about 100000
each. and a fuel ship to cost sl."",H1.
Of the navy authorized by the Sixty third
Congress is sS6l45. SO. showing an in
crease over the Sixty-seCond Congress
by the Sixty-third Congress of $50. 80
1862 for additional ships for the navy.
To this should he added 100000 for
aviation and 600 for submarines re-
appropriated from savings effected in eX-
penditures ashore over the last fiscal
year. This 81. 500 00o of money reappro-
priated by reason of economies effected
should be added 10 the $50 1881. making
sS7,9i5.53l for new construction.
The real progress that will ;" made
by the navy as a result OF its liberal and
Intelligent treatment by this Congress
cannot be expressed by dollars and cents.
Any person or any Congress can spend
money. but no other Congress has gone
SO far TO see that its appropriation was
applied where most vitality needed and
without regard to merely political con-
sderations. Everything has been sub
ordinated to the battle fieet and its eff
iiciency- The haphazard and sometimes
prodical appropriations of previous Con-
Tesses for unnecessarily costly build
ings at navy yards, which has been so
justly criticized by former Secretary OF
the Navy Never in the public press, has
been done away with.
Rnnrd khnIish.a
''Of perhaps even greater eventual i'm
portance than the mere physical addi-
tons to the fleet are the steps taken to-
wards increasing the personnel and mod
ernlzing the military organizations of
the navy. The plucking board. which
had outlived its usefulnes. has been
abolished and system OF promotion to
take its place will be one Of the first
things taken up by the new Congress
when it assemblies.
A comparison of the provisions Of the
bill with the recommendations in the
annual report of the Secretary OF the
Navy for the fiscal year 1914. and the &C
estimates for the fiscal year
9l5-16, shows how closely Congress fol-
Owed the thought and reasoning of this
report The building program recon- !
nended by the Secretary was: Two
six destrUyers. eight sub
marines or more. one TO be of sea-going