The Washington herald., 1915-04-26

| the navy, as against $26,000,O00 au-
thorized during the last two years OF
Taft's: it authorized five Dreadnoughts
instead of two. and stated in effective
ness the five Dreadnoughts authorized
under Wilson will mount thirty-six
more 14-inch guns than the two au-
thorized under Mr.. Taft.
Edison Working on Battery.
LAS to submarines. the Sixty-third
Congress, elected with Wilson, adopted
my recommendation to give US all the
money it could for submarines. 1t
ordered the construction of three sea-
going submarines, the largest ever
authorized by any country, and twen-
ty-three submarines of the same size
and type which have done such fear
full execution in the present war. I'm
der the Taft administration twelve
submarines were authorized. Nobody
has yet perfected a satisfactory engine
or satisfa Glory battery for submarines.
Upon my invitation, Mr.. Edison last
year went down into a submarine and
closely studied its every feature. He
thinks he has a battery that will meet
the need. Our tests at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard cause US to believe Mr..
Edison has the right principle. With
out waiting for the completion Of his
battery. he has been given an order
for two-one to be put into an old
submarine. whose battery does not
give satisfa ction. and one for new
submarine which I have ordered built
at the Portsmouth IN. HI Navy Yard.
Private firms building submarines have
not given entire satisfaction. We
have equipped the Portsmouth Navy
Yard 10 build submarines. and by COM
petition between government and pri-
waite construction il is hoped that
every obstacle may be overcome"
Claims Credit for Aviation.
Mr.. Daniels calls attention to the
fact that after the navy had for years
Jagged behind in aviation. he appoint
ed a board of aviation, which recon-
mended the use of Pensacola station
as an aviation station and the crea-
tion of an aviation bureau in the de-
partment. both of which recommen da-
tions he approved. Congress. he says.
at his recommendation, adopted an
elaborate plan for the real develop
ment of aviation in the navy.
'.All this unprecedented increase in the
navy has been secured" says Mr.. Dan
iels. without large increase in appro-
priations. How? By avoiding unneces-
sary expenditure ashore. by reducing the
cost of work ashore while maintaining
its quality and reducing appropriations
for enlargement Of shore stations. by Sc
curing real competition, and by economy.
During the four years of Taft. $21. .572
was appropriated by Congress for the
public works alone of shore stations.
Two naval bills have been passed by the
present administration and they carry
together. for the public works of shore
stations. a total of s.. 800. $50
We have greatly reduced expenditures
ashore and greatly increased them afioat.
and the above figures attest the change
for the better. When became Secretary
ships could be built in only two navy
yards We have equipped or are equip
ping five additional navy yards for the
construction of navy craft. and this is
being done while at the sarhe time there
is a big decrease in appropriations
ashore"
Mr.. Daniels also refers to large savings
on armor plate and projectiles by COM
peling competitive bidding among the
American manufacturers of these ma
terials.