The Washington herald., 1915-05-02

A four-battIeship program. with sixteen
destrovers, three fleet submarines. SIX
teen coast defense submarines, and nj
teen auxiliary ships, is the naval pro-
gram for 1916 to be supported by the
National security League.
The naval committee of the league con-
sists Of ]. Bernard Waller. r. w. Noeser.
". Butler Duncan, r. T. Forsna"'
William S. Lloyd. William McAdoo, no
land r. Riggs, Herbert l.. Satterlee, BEN
jamin F. Tracy. Beekman Winthrop. ano
Henry A. Wise Wood. After three
months of careful study. the committee
has reported in favor of supporting 'he
recommendation of the general BOARD OF
the navy for 1916.
In its introduction the committee de-
c,,res that I'VE need either an adequate
navy. up We need none at all. The
report continues: That Intellectual re-
sistance is worse than useless is beheVed
to he automatic. and discussion on this
point is proftless.'
In urging Congress to accept the rec
committee saws: The members of the
general board are officers of the navy
who have made lifelong study OF Its
problems They have at their disposal
Information not available to the general
public, and they have taken ample time
seriously and calmly to consider this in
formation. The men who have made
these recommendations have well appre-
ciated their responsibilities to the coun-
try, and therefore your committee be-
reves il would be inexpedient to go fur
,her than to present the views of the
general board. supplemented wherever
necessary with other official material as
NAV be available and relevant. A board
such as this. whose personnel Is con-
tinuousIv changing yet which year after
wear urges substantially the same leSis-
lation on matters vital to the navy, must
nc considered as expressing the mature
views Of the service at large.
In the matter of battleships. the gen
cral board remains of the opinion it has
always held, that the command of the
sells that can take and keep the sea in all
time and in all weathers and overcome
the strongest enemy's vessels that may
be brought against them. Next in i'm
portance for the general purpose of war
IN the sea comes the destroyers. and
for this type of craft the general board
has arrived at the conclusion that the
needs of a fleet in war require at least
four destroyers for every battleship.
Submarines Invaluable.
The value of submarines for distant
work with the fleet can hardly be over
estimated. To this end the feet subna-
rines are essential. while for coast de-
tense purposes smaller vessels OF the type
adopted by the navy are required. In the
cruiser class our navy has not received a
single authorization for construction since
1901 when three coast cruisers and two
Srmored cruisers were laid down. This
lea YES our feet peculiarly lacking in this
clement so necessary for information in
4 navy campaign and of such great value
il opening and protecting routes of
trade for our own commerce and pro-
hibitins such routes to the commerce of
the enemy.
I'm view Of the advance that has
been made in aeronautics during the
past year and the demonstration now
being made Of the vital Importance of
proper air service in both land and
sea warfare our present situation can
be described as nothing less than de-
unpreparedness. in contact with any
foe, possessing a proper air service.
our scouting would be blind. We would
he without the means of detecting his
plans and unable to attack him from
the air. while our own movements
would be open TO him.
Lastly. the navy is deficient in gun
boats. In the matter of auxiIiaries
needed for the fleet a most serious
condition exists. Following the recon-
me ndations OF the general board for
the 1915 program the following au-
thorizations are urged by the commit
tee: Four battleships. sixteen destroy
crs. three fleet submarines. sixteen
coast defense submarines. four scouts.
four Eunboats. two fuel ships. one de-
stroyer tender. one submarine tender,
one naval transport. one hospital ship.
one supply ship. and for air service
81. 900, 900"
The committee closes its report with
an appeal for personnel legislation to
take the place of the plucking board.
which was abolished at the last Sos
sion OF Congress. and urges that ex-
penditures for the navy be appropri-
ated under the budget system.
Such system of naval appropria-
TONS" says the report. has proven |
successful in foreign navies. Our pres
ent system has been proven unsatisfac-
tory. Should we not be willing to learn !
a lesson from the examples of others?"