The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-12-16
Secretary of Navy Recommends
FiVe-Year Program Asking
For Ships of All De-
SCTiption.
TO ENCOURAGE AvIAToRS
Would Open Navy Aviation
Corps to Civilian Airmen-
Board Wants Large Pro-
gram First Year.

Washington, D. c., Dec. "details
of the $500, 100000 navy building pro-
gram under the flve-year continuing
plan recommended to congress are con-
tanned in the annual report of Secre-
tary Daniels, made public last night.
The report shows that the first time
in the history of the department. the
secretary's recommendations increase
the expenditures proposed by the gem
eral board. In this connection the
secretary says:
MY recommendation of a five-year
program embraces the same number as
proposed by the general board in the
distribution it made in the fiVe-year
program Of dreadnaughts, battle
cruisers, scouts and destroyers. L
recommend Is fleet submarines
where the general board recommends
nine, and ! recommend SO coast sub
marines as against So recommended by
the general board. For additional re-
serve ammunition, my recommenda-
ton is S25,000,0O0, whereas the general
board recommends $11,000,000. They
recommended something more for 9TH
er craft. My total for five years Is
$500, 4S2,214. The general boards total
is $499,S76,000, a very slight difference
recommendation for the first year ts
very much larger than the depart
mentS estimate"
The five-year program for new ships
and completion Of those already au-
thorized reaches a grand total of $780,
4S2,214, with large appropriations Tor
reserve ammunition and aviation.
Differs From Board.
Secretary Daniels differed from the
general board in the one important
particular at least as to the program,
although the total number of ships to
be constructed and the types recon-
mended are those proposed by the
board. The secretary says:
THE general board was called upon
for advice in this connection, and the
department has accepted its recon-
mendations as regards numbers of cap
ital ships. AS regards their distribu-
ton over a five-year period, it was con-
Guided, in view of all the circumstances
that IL would be best to make this as
nearly uniform as might be-. This
course has obvious practical ad-
vantages, particularly in view Of the
present congested condition of tho
shipbuilding industry in this country.
Moreover, since the maximum rate OF
expenditure upon the capital ships,
which take soL--a years to build in any
case, will not be reached Immediately,
it enables US to concentrate more al
first upon submarines and other quick
u
earlier returns for our expenditures in
the shape of complete vessels"
It is understood that the board rec
commended particularly large program,
for the first year.
Favors Discussion.
The secretary calls attention to the
fact that he established n precedent
last year in making public the report
of the general board, which he will fol-
low this year at later date. The re-
suit, he says, is certain to arouse cls-
cussion as between the recommends
tons of the board and Of the secretary,
but adds:
But discussion makes for knowledge
and a wise decision. The general board
is influenced by its professional views,
while the administration takes into
consideration the whole national policy
and does not overlook the question Of
national revenues"
The Fleet Of 1921.
Following will be the composition Of
the fleet in 1921, built or building, If
the program is carried out, according
to the general boards calculations, the
secretary says:
Battleship=, first line. 2!
Battle cruisers NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 8
Battleships, second line. %