Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-26

the fleets and such mining as may De necessary on the high seas. For the execution of this work and further study and development of mines and mining the navy now has three ships: the San Francisco and Baltimore, mine layers and mine depot ships, and the Dubuque, mine training ship The gen. eral board, as early as 1908, recog- niZed the need of mine depot vessels and recommended the conversion of two old cruisers for this purpose. The same year congress authorized the conversion of the San Francisco and Baltimore. Work was started on the San Francisco June 12, 1908, but was not completed until December 2, 1911. Work on the Baltimore was not start ed until April 5, 1913 and was com pleted April 1. 1915. As to mine sweep CTS, division of seagoing tugs and a division of torpedo boats have re-
 gently been equipped with mine-sweep- ing gear and the destroyer tender car ries mine sweeping gear for a division of destroyers operating with the fleet. Additional gear is being supplied. At Pensacola during the winter the San Francisco and submarine hotilla have been operating jointly in mining eXer- cises. The department has begun the manufacture of mines and in a short time will have 31 mines for every g 1t had two years ago, increasing our stock PA per cent. By manufacturing mines at a government station in lieu of purchasine them, a saving of $178,- 750 has been effected.
 IA Inch Gun.
 "As to guns: The bureau of ord- nance has developed a IA inch gun that will shoot farther, shoot straight CT and hit harder than any gun now in use or known to be designed by a foreign country. Based upon former and current prices in contracts for guns and gun forgings we have saved $280, ,425.33.
 As to Powder.
 "As to powder: Upon by recom- mendation, congress increased the ca pacity of the Navy Powder factory at Indian Head. When the extension now under way is completed, the capacity will be nearly doubled. The cost of manufacture has incidentally been re- duced 2.7 cents per pound, saving all ready in the cost of powder since man. ufactured, S150,OO0.
 Wireless Equipment.
 "As to radio: Radio has at last been successfully installed on submarines, and more than 75 other ships, which either had no radio or whose equip ment was obsolete, have been supplied with modern equipment. Three entire ly new shore stations have been add ed to the chain: Balboa Canal Zone) Great Lakes, Ills, and Tutuila, Samoa. Value of Aircraft.
 "As to aircraft: The European war has emphasized the value of aircraft. The navy has Jagged behind in this instrument of war. Last year I ap- pointed a board of aviation. It rec commended the utilization of the aban- doned navy yard at Pensacola as a training and repair station for avia- tion and an aviation bureau in the department. This has been done. Upon my earnest recommendation, congress appropriated a million dol lars to begin upon an elaborate plan, the real development of aviation in the navy. It also approved my re- quest to pay aviators an increase if 50 per cent. and we are organizing a class of capable aviators. To make immediately effective this feature, three new hydro -aeroplanes have just been purchased, which is but the be- ginning of the wokr of aviation, now well advanced along the lines of a well | considered plan. I regard this as one of the most far-reaching steps taken by the Wilson administration.
 AS to savings effected: All this un- precedented increase in the navy has been secured, too, without large in crease in appropriations. How? By avoiding unnecessary expenditure ashore, by reducing the cost of work ashore while maintaining it's quality and reducing appropriations for en-
 
 ing real competition. and by economy. During the four years of Taft, $21,928,- 572 was appropriated by congress for the public works alone of shore sta tions. Two naval bills have been pass ed by the present administration, and they carry together, for the public works of shore stations, a total of $3, 920, ,SS0. We have greatly reduced expenditures ashore and greatly in- creased them af1oat and the above fig ures attest the change for the better. When I became secretary, ships could be built in only two navy yards. We have equipped or are equipping five additional navy yards for the con- struction of navy craft, and this is being done while at the same time there is a big decrease in appropria- tions ashore. By securing competi- for projectiles. Up to date, by first rejecting all bids and demanding more reasonable figures, I have saved $1,- 10000 in the purchase of armor plate, securing lower prices than my prede- cessor secured. In two other bureaus alone last year, $1,80O, 900 was saved more than enough to enable congress to re-appropriate one million of the savings for aviation and the balance for submarines. There has been the same character of savings in other Ways-too many items to enumerate. So much for the material and prep aration. Of course, we need constant ly to increase the ships and armament, but the increase In the past two years. larger than in any previous two years in the history of the country is an earnest of what will come in the reg ular and orderly and necessary in crease of naval equipment.
 Have Waiting List.
 ''But of what worth is a ship with out well-traiued men? What has the Wilson administration done as to per so1nel? It is a pleasure to tell you that for the first time in years the enlistment is up to the limit prescribed by law and part of the year we have had g. waiting list. Since I became secretary of the navy we have in creased the enlistment 5,824 men. en- abling us to commission fully 20 sub marines, battleships, 4 destroyers, 6 gunboats, cruisers and 3 monitors, increasing the total number of com missioned vessels by Al over the num- Der commissioned on March 1, 1913. Epoch Making Years in Navy. T have answered your questions at some length. There are two reasons | for the length of my letter:
 1. Because these two years have been epoch making in the navy, dis tinguiShed by more wise and progress