The Washington times., 1915-12-25
Not Agreed Also on BattIeship
Building Facilities Of Ameri-
can Shipyards.
FOUR DREADNAUeHTS URGED
Board Recommends ConstruC-
ton Of Four Battle Cruisers
and Increased Facilities.

II developed today, following the pub
ilcation bv Secretary Daniels Of the
suppressed July report CT. the Navy
General Board. that the Secretary ana
the board are not agreed on the battle
ship building facilities OF American
shipyards.
Secretary Daniels, in defending his
action in reducing the estimates made
by the board, said that the program of
four capital ships and alIxiliaries he
urged for authorization next year will
tax to the utmost the facilities OF Amer
loan shipyards. The board. in the sup
pressed report, said the program OF
eight capital ships It recommended was
we'll within the limit OF existing facili-
ties
Mr.. Daniels today made public the
suppressed report of the board. con-
corning which n storm has been raised
by members CT Congress.
The Boards Recommendations.
The program submitted Ey the gen
eral hoard called for the authorization
OF four dreadnanRhts and four battle
cruisers in 1917. The program submit
ted to Congress by Mr.. Daniels called
for two dreadne lights and two battle
cruisers in 1917.
No estimate OF cost was submitted by
the general board, but MIR. Daniels said
the July program OF the board would
cost $210.OOO,OO0 for new construction.
additional sums for continuing old
construction. ammunition reserve. and
air craft would bring the total to $780,
OUO.COO
Mr.. Daniels estimate Of cost for 1911.
construction in the program he Eut-
mitted to Congress called fer 5000 fer
new construction. and $3S, COCOON for
completion of ships previously author
lied. for aviation, and Tor reserve am
munition. a total of SsS. COZ. 900.
The 5000, 100000 naval construction ex-
penditure recommended by the general
board for 1917 was considered only as a
starter. The program of construction
submitted was believed by the board to
be at the limit of facilities at present
existing"
Increased Facilities Urged.
While embark:ng on this building
program, the board urged that there
should be Increased facilities for navy
yards and shore establishments gener-
ally" with the idea that more ships
might be built in subsequent years.
In outlining the policy II believed
the United States should adopt in OBJ
tanning a navy equal to the most pow
erful maintained by any other nation
of the world" the general board said
! that this limit should be attained not
later than 1925.
Naval experts in considering this re-
| port reached the conclusion that the
minimum expenditure under the board
plan would be $500. 10000 in 1917. and
| that this yearly expenditure would be
increased year by year as fast as navy
yards and private plants should be
| equipped to build more warships. The
| highest point in expenditure would be
reached, undeF-this plan, in 1922, the
last year available for appropriations
for vessels to be completed in 1925.
The Suppressed Report.
The suppressed report OF the general
board is as follows:
| I'm compliance with the oral order
| of the Secretary of the Navy to eE.
press its opinion at the earliest prac,
| ticable date as to a policy whicf
should govern the development of the
| navy and a building program, the
| general board reports as follows:
POLICY.
THE navy of the United State,
should ultimately be equal to the
most powerful maintained by any 9th u
nation of the world. 1t should ID
gradually increased to this point by
such a rate of development. year BY
| year, as may be permitted by the IA,
| cilities OF the country, but the lin,I
above defined should be attained no
| later than 1925.
"In pursuance of this policy. aut
having in mind the present facilitie.
OF this country, the board is OF the