South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-13
DANIELS FAVORS
BIC BATTLESHIPS
Annual Report of Secretary of
Navy Advocates Fast Bat
tie Cruisers.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81 Full
details OF secy Daniels continuous
naval construction program involv-
ing the expenditure of half a billion
dollars in the course OF the next five
years. are contained in his annual
report as head Of the navy depart
ment. made public Sunday night.
Battleships are still the primary
need, he declares. Mr Daniels says.
As in the case OF submarines. so
in the case Of battle cruisers, the
particular course OF the present war
does not Justify the prevalent exag-
gerated idea OF their Importance"
On account Of congestion of work
in both the navy Yards and civil
establishments. N Daniels proposes
90 begin work on two battleships and
two cruisers only during the FIRST
year.
Huge Fleet BY 1921.
II Sec'y Daniels program is car
RED cut, the navy would be com
posed OF the following vessels built
or building in 1921: Batucships,
first line, %: battle cruisers. 6; bat
tleships second line. %; armorcd
cruisers. 10; scout cruisers, Is;
cruisers. first class, g. cruisers, sec
ond class, 3: cruisers. third class
To- destroyers. los; fleet submarines
is; coast submarines. 157; monitors
g; gunboats. 20. supply ships. 4
- . d
20 torpedo vessels. 8; special types
s ammunition ships, ..
Emphasizing the need Of battle
cruisers. which the navy now lacks
and OF more scouts, Sec'y Daniels
says:
lit Is a notable fact that in every
naval event of consequence which
has occurred in the North sea area
the leading parts have been taken by
vessels of the battle cruiser and
scout types. and i; Is evident that
had either side lacked such vessels
il would have been at a disadvan-
tage. When the battle cruiser type
was first brought out it was argued
that il could lie i'm the line with bat
tleships and be used as battlesGir
upon occasion. Experience Of the
war. however, seems TO indicate that
their primary function will be indie
pendent action and that If n possi-
bic antagonist is possessed of any ma
terial number Of vessels whose speed
enables them 10 certainly elude the
battleship and which are SO power
ful that they need not apprehend
torpedo craft it is necessary to have
the battle cruiser to cope with them
In case OF war. the country hay
Ing the superior fleet will probably
control the sea, but experience ha.
demonstrated the fact that fast
cruisers may keep the sea for an in.
definite period. obtaining supple.
and coal from captured merchant
men and in the meantime do an in.
estimable damage TO commerce and
lines Of communication OF the coun.
try with the more powerful navy
Without fast cruisers of equal oil
greater power, both in speed and
armament the real control Of Tn,
sea and protection 10 commerce anC
lines OF communication cannot b,
assured"
To Cost S217.652.17I.
The aggregate estimates for tn,
next fiscal year for the upkeep o
the present naval establishments IN,
continuance OF work on vessels al
ready begun and the commencement
Of work on the fve-year program ar,
S217,652,1T4. or this amount SOS.
S6s.127 would go to continue tn,
ships authorized by the last con.
gress, and S57.0O3.OO0 would be &c
voted 10 new construction il is hope,
the present congress- win authorize
This makes $S5.372.127 for the frs
year for increase of the navy" tn,
specific amounts To bee expended am
nually during the dve-year period "A.
yell as the units of construction call
ed for in the five-year 100000. C0t
building program already have beer
made public by Mr.. Daniels.
As 20 auxiliary ships for the navy
Mr.. Daniels points out that the idea
way 20 secure them would be Z,
have congress authorize the coEstruc
ton OF govemment-oWned ships up
on navy specifications 10 be utilized
Tor commerce i'm time OF peace an,
be ready for navy purposes i'm tn,
event OF hostihties