The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1915-12-30
URGES BIG SUM
FOR WARSHIPS
Naval Board Would Spend
$500, 100000 On Fleet
SHOULD EQUAL ANY AFLOAT
Report Made Public by Secretary Dan
iels of the Navy-Aircraft Service
Considered as Necessary
Branch of the Equipment.

gton.-Secretary Daniels OF
the Navy made public the original re-
port Of the general board OF the navy
| prepared in reply to a query address.
ed when the administration determin-
ed TO take up the question of national
preparedness. Critics of the admins.
tration fve-year building plan for the
navy have declared this report was
suppressed in part by the department.
and II published would disclose the in
adequacy of the governments plans
Daniels Defends Course
The board does not state that the
British fleet could be equaled by 1926
by continuing this first year program,
cut indicates that heavier expendi-
lures would follow if ship building IA
cllltleS were increased in accordance
with its recommendations
In giving out the report Secretary
Daniels said that all statements from
the general board as to building pro-
! grams made during the year had now
been made public. He called atten-
| ton to the fact that he had set a pre-
cedent for publishing the annual re-
ports, as they had heretofore been re-
| garded as confidential
1
The navy Of the United States
should ultimately be equal TO the
most powerful maintained by any
other nation of the world Ii
should be gradually increased to
this point by such a rate of de-
velopment year by year as may
be permitted by the facilities of
the country, but the limit above
defined should be attained not
later than 1925.
In pursuance Of this policy, ana
keeping in mind the present facil-
tiles of this country, the board is
OF the opinion that the following
addition to the naval establish
ment should be authorized this
year and recommends the same
for your considerations this addi-
tion is believed by the board to be
within, especially at the limit of
the facilities at present existing:
Four battle cruisers, four dread
naughts. six scouts, 80 coast ma
rines. seven fleet submarines, %
destroyers, six gunboats.
Aircraft Included.
AuXiliaries-One destroyer, two
fleet submarine tenders, four fuel
oil ships, one supply ship, one
transport, one hospital ship. one
repair ship, one ammunition ship.
Aircraft service dump appropri-
ation)-S5. 100000
Personnel Eleven thousand
men.
This number will provide for
the needs of the present ships OF
the navy, including those nearing
completion, but it must be borne
in mind that the personnel, com
missioned, warrant and enlisted,
will have to be further increased
as the new construction pro-
crosses.
Increased facilities for the navy
yards and shore establishments
generally such as drydocks, berth
ing spaces, building slips, struc-
tural shops, cranes for handling
heavy weights, shop machinery,
ammunition and other storage IA
Cilities, civil personnel, ETC.
GEORGE DEWEY.
Estimates Based on Report
Secretary Daniels recommendation
TO Congress that the enlisted person.
mel OF the navy be increased by 1900
bluejackets, $500 apprentice seame1
and 1,500 marines during the years
1851 in order to man the ships
nearing completion was based, it was
disclosed. upon the annual report oil
Rear Admiral Victor Blue, chief oil
the bureau of navigation. now made
public.
There were 1886 bluejackets in
the service October /. 1915. Admiral
Blues report shows, and with his pro
posed increases including the appren
tice seamen. the force would number
62 CSC in 1917 or about 400 less thar
recommended by the general board
Should Congress authorize an in
crease of 1908 men there would be in
full commission July I, 1917, p bat
tleships, armored cruisers. IL cruis
ers. 80 destroyers, 26 gunboats. 81
submarines and the requisite auxilia
riCs
In reserve would be II battleship.
over - years old. armored cruisers
| ~ cruisers. lG destroyers. 10 old tor
pedo boats and four tenders