Evening star., 1915-12-13
General Boards Recommendations.

'The general board was called upon for
advice in this connection. and the depart
ment has accepted its recommendations as
regards numbers OF capital ships. AS re-
CARDS their distribution over a f1ve-year
period, it was concluded. in view Of all
the circumstances, that it would be best
to make this as nearly uniform as might
be. This course has obvious practical
advantages, particularly in view of the
present congested condition Of the ship
building industry in this country. More
over, since the maximum rate Of expendi-
ture upon the capital ships. which take
some years to build in any case, will not
be reached Immediately, it enables US to
concentrate more at first upon submarines
and other quickly built craft, SO that we
will get earlier returns for our expendi-
ture In the shape Of completed vessels"
Secretary Daniels says his decision to
recommend q continuing building policy
was reached after much reflection, con-
ference with able experts of the navy and
patriotic men in civil walks Of life"
Il hope Congress will indorse 1t by so
large a vote Of its members as to make
certain its continuance by Congresses to
come" -.
The full total Of the navy budget for
the year Is $217.652.171, al lbut $780,
2S0,047 Of which will go for ships now
under construction or to be authorized
The remainder contemplates the increased
p6fSOlHSl ana general running expenses
Of the navy afloat and ashore
In comparison with the enormous ex-
penditures abroad" the Secretary writes,
tho large expenditure Is necessary If our
feet ID to be able to enforce American
policies The lesson Of the European war
warns us that it is better to spend money
in times of peace for preparation than to
run the risk, however remote, OF sorely
wanting ships and munitions IL suddenly
needed"
Tb. SAcr><orx, ,annr>... ,A,
the need of battle cruisers of the pro-
posed thirty -five-knot type The events
OF the European war are recounted to
show the part these craft have played
ana ss the reasons for including six of
the battleships of the future, the Sec
retary says the suggested vessels are
Of much greater displacement and
heavier armament than anything here
tofore contemplated for any navy. The
department Is now discussing plans for
ships of $4,000 tons and armed with
sixteen Inch or perhaps seventeen-inch
guns. The Secretary says the plan has
not yet been approved, but his esti-
100000 each, which would allow for the
increased size.
Urges Change in Promotion System.
Secretary Daniels takes another rad
tcal step In his report in urging that
the present system Of promotion Of off,
GERS by seniority be abandoned in favor
Of promotion by selection. He goes at
length into the results of the seniority
system TO find that it produces stag
nation in the lower grades. arrival al
command rank late in life and q feet
ing passage through command and flag
grades. combined with absolute lack OF
professional incentive throughout all
grades
Actual service" the Secretary saws
crowned with efficiency, and not age
should supersede the infiexible rule OF
| retiring all officers at a given age. II
tiring officers at sixty-two years of age
| be changed SO as to provide that on
| GERS be retired forty-one years after
| their graduation at the Naval Academy
The effect Of such legislation would
slxty-three yeara IN tho army the
statutory age Of retirement is sixty.
four years.
Turning to the problem Of fndins
in war time. the Secretary says he has
| not included any vessels in his build
Ing program except those which must
be used constantly for the navy, in
peace or war. On war basis. he adds
| the navy would need 400 additional
ships. or a tonnage Of 1,1g2.000 to carry
fuel and supplies and do other auxil-
larry work. About 800,0 900 tons for this
work could be drawn from the presen,
| merchant marine, he says, but some
method must be found TO supply the
rest.
The solution for the government
the report continues, sis to constfuc,
| from time to time sufficient and suit.
able auxiliary feet. proporttoned to the
needs OF the navy, and to have suci
auxiiiAr1es operated in commerce dur.
Ing peace tinnAs In such d way ~ vii
preserve them and train the essential
naval reserve OF men, and while doing
this relieve the government OF the bur
den OF cost OF maintenance through the
incoms or earnings Of the vessels en-.
ployed in commerce. Such q policy
would give to the navy, without cost
for its operation during peace. q per.
feet auxiliary. OF course, these ships
should be built upon navy plans and
manned by American citizens trained
under navy regulations. which would
make them efficient in time OF war.
In Recommending again the construc-
| tion OF . government arnnor-plate FAC.
tory and also urging that . proJectill
factory be added to the navys equip.
meft ana that every nibvy yard b
Equipped for construction ~ we'll q
repair work, g4cretary Deuiels again
DAyo o1go1o - n1o fAeegY tat tlae 9OS'
| ernment ahouId - ah1e 10 build any
II pnyt oG The HQu1pW1nt nAodo0 Tor thu