New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-10
NAVY TO BUILD
TWO BATTLESHIPS
New York and Mare Island
Yards Each Awarded
One Contract.

Washington, Dec. 9.--Secretary Dan
icls announced to-day that, following a
conference with President Wilson, the
contracts for battleships Nos. +3 and
A. authorized at the last Congress, had
been awarded, respectively, TO the Ne"
York and Mare Island navy yards. Inc
bids OF the yards were lower than those
of private contractors, and II Is De,
lieved the vessels can be completed
sooner.
The California is now building at
New York and will be launched IN Sep
TENDER. BY that time II IS expected
that the work of extending the ways
at the Mare Island yard which will be
begun at once, will be competed.
Secretary Daniels said that bids on
structural steel recently received lndi-
Gated that the battleships could be
built for less money than the yards es,
timated. The Navy Department vii,
begin Immediately to order material
for the ships. The Secretary will rec
ommend to Congress that about ST.
100000 be appropriated to equip the
Philadelphia Navy Yard for battleshiI
construction. The Mare Island yard
can be equipped for about half that
sum, part of which is included in the
bid on the battleship to be built there
Private Bids Too High.
Congress appropriated S7,SO0,000 for
each of the battleships, and none OF the
private bids was within that amount.
Designs for the two battlesnIps are
complete. except for the motive power
The departments experts are debating
the advisability of installing an cleo
trio drive.
Bids for the two feet submarine:
authorized by the last Congress will
be opened at the Navy Department OF
February IS. Specifications for boats
20 have 4 surface speed of twenty-five
knots have been sent TO prospective
bidders.
Eighteen similar or larger submersi-
bles arc included in the fiyeyear build
ing programme for the navy recon-
mended to Congress by President Will
son.
The new vessels mark departure in
naval construction, and were designed
by the department. They will have a
displacement of 1900 tons, as compared
with the 80O-ton boats now in commits
sion and the l,000-ton Schley, nearing
completion.
None Abroad So Large.
So far as is known, no European
power has yet built a submersible APP
preaching twenty-five knots surface
speed. To obtain the necessary power
navy designers have planned vessels
operated by steam turbines on the sur
face. although bids based on oil OF
gas engines will be considered il sub
mitted.
Some apprehension has been felt by
navy officials as TO whether private
builders would bid for such craft
Within the last few days. however
several companies have asked for the
specifications, and they are expected
TO submit proposals. II is thought
probable that one will be constructed
b. the government, in any event, that
policy having been inaugurated last
year
The boats will measure more than
ESQ feet in length, it is understood
and will have a cruising radius and
seagoing qualities to make them efec-
tive in any weather and able to cruise
with the battle feet. A plan to Gban-
don coast defence submersibles of the
smaller types in favor of these big
craft is being seriously considered.