The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-28
DANIELS And NAVY
BOARD TO AGREE ON
ONE PROGRAMME
10 storm Congress Unitcdly to
Assure Adequate Battle
Fleet.
SUBMARINES, PLANES
AND SCOUTS NEEDED

WAsutSGroN. July o7.-That the Sec
gress the most comprehensive pro-
rramme for additions to the feet ever
forwarded to that body now appears
to be assured
Administration officials say there can
no longer be any doubt that President
Wilson has decided to give his support
10 a more progressive policy in upbuild-
ing the navy along modern lines.
This means in their opinion that the
General Board OF the Navy, the ad-
visory council formed by the head OF
tie Department. II Secretary Daniels
will cooperate in making a we'll bal
anced programme that will call for morn
battleships. scouts. repair ships and
other subsidiaries 40 urgently required
by modern warfare. Heretofore the
Secretary has recommended n build
ing programme without regard to the find-
ings OF the General Board.
Admiral Benson Mig Factor.
Admiral Benson. the new chief of
operations. is the principal military ad-
wiser Of the Secretary. He is likewise
" '1fIflbtF vi tue NrtFtTdl EtOATu ana IA
member of the advisory council. II
IL expected that II Admiral Benson has
his way only one naval programme will
be submitted to Congress this winter in
stead Of two. as in former years. Un-
der such circumstances with the sup
port Of the President. naval officials
are hopeful that Congress will adopt
this winter n we'll thought out policy
fashioned by experts.
When the House Committee on Naval
Affairs came to prepare the naval bud
get last year IT was confronted with
two official building programmes. One
Of them. prepared by the Secretary of
the Navy, proposed two d~readnoughts,
six destroyers. eight or more subma-
fines. one gunboat and one oiler. The
General Board recommended sixty-four
additional ships, including four battle
ships. sixteen destroyers. nineteen sub
marines and other subsidiaries. as well
as 100000 900 for aerial service.
The Secretary ignored the recommen-
dations OF the General Board and based
his programme on what he thought he
could get from Congress.
II is realized that as long as the
General Board and the Secretary work
a, cross purposes. as they have for many
years. Congress will pay little attention
w OApNlt oBliloH III iTdIllnk naval Dllle
Service Rows Aired.
Other differences within the service
were aired before the House committee
during the last session. Appearing be.
for the committee at different times
Secretary Daniels and his aids in tho
Department told conflicting stories as
10 the needs of the service. An EFFORT
-n L..
in the future. II is admitted on all
hands In the Department that the alb
sence OF team work In the past has
initiated against tine adoption OF any
thing like a we'll thought out policy In
the u%pbuilding OF the navy.
The subject of national defence sc
far as II affects the navy was considered
OF a meeting of the General Board to-
day, All members II the board except
Admiral Dewey were present.
The discussion to-day touched only
briehy upon the prospective building pro
eramme. II was agreed that before thu
board gave serious consideration to q
naval programme this year II SHOULD
await intelligence from the naval OBJ
servers aboard. Up to date the United
States has received only meagre report.
concerning the naval lessons taught BY
iae war.
II is known Of course that the sub
marine has demonstrated its efficiency
within certain limitations. As there ha.
been no actual test so far between
modern dreadnoughts and submarine.
the relative efficiency of the two has no
yet been determined.
The belief was expressed az to-day!
meeting that naval engagements OF i'm
p~ortance would undoubtedly be Tough
within the next few months. Accord
ingly It was agreed that the board
report to the Secretary should be de
ierred until fall. BY that time II Il
hoped the Navy Department will be II
possession of information Of importance
10 guide it in preparing n building pro
gramme for consideration by Congress.