The Keota news., 1915-12-10

TO service or not. II WOuIo Oop0"u op0s.
the patriotic spirit Of the employers OF
the country whether they made 1t possi-
BILE for the younger men IN their EN-
ploy TO respond under favorable condi-
lions or not ], for one. do not douos
the patriotic devotion either OF our youna
mon or OF those who give them employ
ment-those for whose beneft and protec.
ton they would IN fact enlist. wouio
look forward to the success OF such an
experiment with entire confidence.
At least 10 much by way of prepara.
ton for defenle seems to mo to be ABB
solutely imperative now. We <-.hnot dc
less.
Program for the Navy.
The program to be laid before you con.
templates the construction within five
wears of 10 battleships. battle cruis.
ers. 10 scout cruisers. 80 destroyers. IL
fleet submarines. IS coast submarines.
four gunboats. one hospital ship. two
ammunition ships. two fuel-oil ships and
one repair ship. 1t II proposed that OF
this number We shall the first year pro.
vide for the construction Of two battle.
ships, two battle cruisers. three scout
cruisers, Is destroysrs. hve fleet subma-
rines, 26 coast submarines. two gunboats
and one hospital ship: the second year
two battleships. ono scout cruiser. ten
destroyers. four feet submarines. Is coast
oil ship: tho third year. two battleships.
one battle cruiser. two scout cruisers, fve
destroysrs. two feet submarines. and II
coast submarines: tho fourth year. two
battleships. two battle cruisers. two
scout cruisers. ten destroyers. two neet
submarines. Is coast submarines. one am.
munition ship, and one fuel-oil ship: and
the NTH year. two battleships. one battle
cruiser, two scout cruisers. ton destroy
ers. two fleet submarines. Is coast subma-
rines one gunboat. one ammunition shir
and one repair ship
The secretary Of the navy 10 asking
also for the immediate addition to the
personnel Of the navy Of 1900 sailors
$500 apprentice seamen. and 1900 marines
for the ships which are to bs 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 1915 It 10 also neces
sary that the number Of midshipmen at
the naval academy at Annapolis should
be increased by at least 800 IN order that
the force Of officers should be more rap
idly added to: and authority 10 asked to
appoint for engineering duties only. ap-
proved graduates Of engineering colleges.
and for service in the aviation corps q
certain number Of men taken from civil
life.
II this full program should bs carried
out We should have built or building in
1871. according to the estimates Of surviv-
al and standards of classification followed
by the general board Of the department,
an effective navy consisting Of q battle
ships Of the FIRST line. six battle cruisers,
Is battlsships Of the second line. ten ar
mored cruisers. u scout cruisers. nve
hrst-class cruisers. three second class
cruisers. ten third-class cruisers. loe dc.
troyers. IL neet submarines. 1877 coast sub
marines. six monitors. 20 gunboats, four
supply ships. Is fuel ships. four trans.
ports, three tenders to torpedo vessels,
eight vessels Of special types. and two
ammunition ships. This would be a navy
nttcd to our needs and worthy Of our
traditions.
Trade and shipping.
But armies and instruments Of war are
only part Of what has to be considered
II We are to consider the supreme matter
OF national self-sunciency and security
10 Al tts aspects. There are other great
matters which will be thrust upon our at
tention whether We will or not. There
ior example. very pressing question
OF tIeoe and shipping involved in this
70 necessarv for many weixhtv reasons o.
national efficiency and deveiopment
tnat we should have q great merchant
ships Are Needed.
With view to meeting these pressing
necessit'es of-eur commerce and availing
ourselves at the earliest possible moment
81 T1,,p tne present unparalleled opportunity Of
mixing the two Americas together in
ponds OF mutual interest and service. an
opportunity which may never return
again II We miss Il now. proposals will
% made to the present congress for the
% purcnase or construction Of ships to be
o'"s O~n1u .no directed by tho government
similar to those made to the last con.
gre:s. but modified in some esssntia, mar.