Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-13
NEW FLEET IS PROVIDED
IN PROGRAM FOR navy
Plan Now Is to Ask for Fifteen to
Twenty Vessels OF Dreadnought
and Battle Cruiser Type.
SMALL BOATS IN PROPORTION
Secretary Daniels and President VIII
son in Accord on Naval Needs, and
Latter Is Expected to Make 1t an
Administration Measure.

WASHINGTON. October l2.-Fifteen
to twenty fighting ships of the Dread
nought and battlc-cruiser type. with a
proportionatc number OF sea going sub
marines. scout cruisers. destroyers and
auxiliaries--cnough to make new
fleet - is contemplated by Secretary
Daniels for recommendation as a fve-
year building program for the United
States Navy.
President Wilson and Secretary
Daniels have discussed Informally tho
needs Of the navy. and are agreed that.
In order to be adequately prepared for
defense. the present strength of The
feet must be almost doubled in the
next nve years. with the addition Of
many Of the latest type Of fast and
powerful fighting craft.
DETAILS AS TO NUMBERS
NOT FINALLY WORKED OUT
Details as to numbers have not yet
been finally worked out. bu. tho idea
OF fixing a ratio for 81 continuing pro-
gram over Il period OF five years in the
basic principle upon which the general
board OF the navy and Secretary Daniels
are planning their recommendations.
Another conference between the Presi-
Friday. at which the total number
probably will be fixed.
The hveyear naval program when
completed would add. in addition to
Dreadnoughts and battle cruisers.
nearly 100 submarines. about seventy
destroyers and several scout cruisers
and proportionate number OF fuel and
hospital ships.
An important part OF tho program,
too, Will be proposal for n large In
crease in personnel. Appropriation for
at least 5000 additional men will be
asked for the hrst year TO make up
present deficiencies. and an adequate
number will be sought to man the new
ships built In tho fve-yenr period.
The total cost OF the proposed pro-
gram for the first year, according TO
present plans, is estimated at nearly
s24s.ooo. 600. or about 500, 600 900 in
crease over last year. Just what con-
struction should be provided for The
first year has not been determined. AS
10 the approximate number of ships
the feet should have at the end of
I'VE years. however. officers Of the
general board and Secretary Daniels
are understood TO ne in thorough
accord.
URGENT DEFICIENCIES
II IS considered probable that the
construction program for the Rrst year
will exceed that OF succeeding years.
!r. order that urgent deficiencies may
be filled promptly. The general board
has been consistently recommending
four battlesh!ps a year. but last year
only three were provided for The
1.- hat
granted The general boards original
plan OF having feet OF forty-e!ght
frst-class battleships BY 1920 conse-
Quently has suffered materially.
II is understood that President Will
son Intends TO discuss the naval pro-
gram In his annual message and TO
make OF II an administration measure.
The building program last year pro-
v!ded for sixteen submarines. so that
the total OF the undcrseacraft. built
and building. is seventy. Although
effective means OF combating under
sea warfare apparently have been
found in Europe. II Is the purpose OF
tho Navy Department TO recommend at
least thirty submarines for next year,
SO as to furnish an adequate number
for defensive purposes In the next
four years, however, a naverage OF Six
teen submarines year. few of which
would be fleet submarines, would be
maintained. That would bring the
total to about 40 in 1--WE years.
II is not known as yet what the
/, plans OF the navy are for, the organ
ization OF the new fleet. but the gem
eral belief in naval quarters is that
the plan OF having n feet in the Pa
cnc Will figure materially in the new
program.