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

| clear that 1t will be to the advantage
Of the country for the congress to adopt
comprehensive plan for putting the
navy upon final footing of strength
and efficiency aud to press that plan
to completion within the next Ave
years. We have always looked to the
navy OF the country as our first and
chief line OF defense; we have always
seen It 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 navics Of the maritime
nations. We should now definitely de-
termine how we shall complete whit
we have begun and how soon.
The Navy Program.
The program to be laid before you
contemplatcs the construction within
Ave years of ten battleships. six hat
tie cruisers, ten scout cruisers. fifty
destroyers, fifteen feet submarines,
eighty-dvc coast submarines, four gun
boats, one hospital ship. two ammuni.
ton ships, two fuel oil ships and ono
repair ship. 1t 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. five 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 battlcships, one battle cruiser, two
scout cruisers, five dcstroyers, two feet
submarines and fifteen coast subma-
rincs; the fsurth year two battleships,
two battle cruisers, two scout cruisers,
ten destroyers, two feet submarines,
fifteen coast submarines, one ammuni-
ton ship and one fuel oil ship, and
the fifth year two battleships, one hat
tie cruiser. two scout cruisers, ten de-
4 stroyers, two feet submarines, fifteen
coast submarines. one gunboat, one am
munition 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 he sufti-
cient to care for the ships which are
to be completed within the fiscal year
1917 and also for the number Of men
which must be put in training to man
the ships which will be completed
early in 1913. 1t Is also necessary that
the number OF midshipmen at the M.
val academy ut Annapolis should be
increased by 1t least 800 in order that
the force of officers should be more
rapidly added to, and authority Is ask
ed 10 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.
If this full program should be carried
out we should have built or building In
1921, according to the estimates OF sur
viyal and standards Of classification
followed by the general board Of the
department, an effective navy consist
ing Of q battleships Of the first line, 8
battle cruisers, % battleships of tho
second line, 10 armored cruisers, IL
scout cruisers, 5 first class cruisers, 8
second class cruisers, 10 third class
cruisers, 108 destroyers, 10 feet sub
marines, 157 coast submarines, 6 mon.
itors, 20 gunboats, 4 supply ships, 10
fuel ships, transports, 3 tenders to
torpedo vessels, s 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-
sidered II we are to consider the su-
preme matter Of national self suficien.
cy and security in all its 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.
1t Is necessary for many weighty rea-
sons Of national efficiency and devel.
opment that we should have great
merchant marine. The great merchant
feet we once used to make us rich,
that great body Of sturdy sailors who
used to carry our flag into every sea,
md who were the pride and often the
bulwark Of tile nation, we have almost
driven out Of existence by inexcusable
neglect and Indifference and by 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 sens. ~ p
Ships Of Peace Needed.
For 1t Is a question Of independe
If other nations 80 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
arc not likely to be permitted to use
even the ships of other nations in III
valry Of their own trade and are with
| out meanS to extend our commerca