The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-12-07
PRESIDENT WILSON'S MESSAGE

>SAPsShSusNc piaH iuE putting tne
navy upon tinal 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 1t to be our manifest course OF
prudence to be strong on the seas.
Year by year we have been creating a
navy which now ranks very high In
deed among the navies OF the maritime
nations. We should now definitely de-
termine how we shall complete what
We have begun and how soon.
The Navy Program.
Tho program to be laid before you
contemplates the construction within
i've years Of ten battlcships, six bat
tie cruisers, ten scout cruisers, fifty
destroyers, fifteen feet submarines.
eighty-fre coast submarines. four gun
boats, one hospital ship, two ammuni.
ton ships. two fuel OIL ships and one
repair ship. It is proposed that OF this
number we shall the first year provide
for the construction OF two battleships,
two battle cruisers, three scout cruisers.
fifteen destroyers, Eve feet submarines.
twenty-five coast submarines, two gun
boats and one hospital ship; the second
year two battleships, one scout cruiser,
ten destroycrs, four feet submarines.
fifteen coast submarines, one gunboat
and one fuel oil ship; the third year
two battleshlps, one battle cruiser, two
scout cruisers, five destroyers. two feet
submarines and fifteen coast subma-
rincs: the fsurth year two battleships.
two battle cruisers, two scout cruisers,
ten dcstroycrs, two feet submarines.
fifteen coast submarines, ono ammuni-
ton ship and one fuel oil ship, and
tho NTH year two battlcships. one bat
tie cruiser. two scout cruisers, ten de-
stroyers. two feet submarines, fifteen
coast submarines. one gunboat, one am
mnnition ship and one repair ship.
The secretary of the navy Is asking
also for the immediate addition to the
personnel Of the navy of 1900 sailors,
$500 apprentice seamen and 1900 ma.
rines. This increase would be suffi-
Gent to care for the ships which are
to be completed within the fiscal year
1917 and also for the number Of men
which must he put in training to man
the ships which will be completed
early in 1918. 1t IS also necessary that
the number of midshipmen at the M.
val academy at Annapolis should be
increased by at least 300 in order that
the force Of officers should be more
rapidly added to, and authority Is ask
ed to appoint, for engineering duties
only, approved graduates OF engineer
ing colleges, and for service in the avi-
alton corps a certain number of men
taken from civil life.
II this full program, should be carried
out we should have built or building In
1921. according to the estimates Of sur.
yiyal and standards Of classification
followed by the general bonrd of the
department, an effective navy consist
ing Of "a battleships Of the first line, 8
battle cruisers, % battleships of the
second line, 10 armored cruisers, 10
scout cruisers, 8 first class cruisers, 8
second class cruisers, 10 third class
cruisers, 10s destroyers, IS feet sub
marines, 157 coast submarines, mon.
itors, 20 gunboats, supply ships, 10
fuel ships, 4 transports, tenders to
torpedo vessels, 8 vessels Of special
types and two ammunition ships. THIS
would be navy fitted to our needs
and worthy Of our traditions.
But armies and instruments of war
are only part Of what has to be con-
sidcred Il we are to consider the su.
preme matter Of national self sufficien-
cy and security in all It's aspects.
There are other great matters which
will be thrust upon our attention
whether we will or not. There is, for
example, a very pressing question of
trade and shipping involved In this
great problem Of national adequacy.
It Is necessary for many weighty rea.
sons Of national efficiency and deyel.
opment that we should have great
merchant marine. The great merchant
fleet we once used to make us rich,
that great body of sturdy sailors who
used to carry our flag into every sea,
and who were the pride and often the
bulwark Of the nation, we have almost
driven out of existence by inexcusable
neglect and Indifference and by a hope.
lessly blind and provincial policy Of
so called economic protection. It Is
high time We repaired our mistake and
resumed our commercial independence
on the seas.
Ships Of Peace Needed.
For It is question of Independence.
II other nations 50 TO- war or. seek to
hamper each others commerce our
merchants, 1t seems, are at their mer-
cy TO- do with as they please. We must
use their ships. and use them as they
determine. We have not ships enough
Of our own. We cannot handle our
own commerce on the seas. Our indie
pendence is provincial, and is only on
land and within our own borders. We
are not likely to be permitted to use
even the ships Of other nations in n
valry of their own trade and are with
out means to extend our commerce
even where the doors are wide open
and our goods desired. Such situa.
tion is not to be endured. It is of capt.
tai importance not only that the Unit
ed States should he fts own carrier m