The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-13
Is Asked by Secretary Dan
iels During the Next
Five Years
ENLARGES REQUEST
OF GENERAL BOARD
Official Changes His Former
Viewpoint Very Ma
terially

Washington. ID. G., Dec. l3.-Details
OF the half billion dollar navy building
program under the iiyeyear continuing
plan recommended to Congress are con-
tanned in the annual report Of Secretary
Daniels, made public last night.
The report shows that for the first
time in the history of the department,
the secretary's recommendations increase
the expenditures proposed by the general
board. In this connection the secretary
says:
MY recommendation of fye-year
program embraces the same number as
proposed by the general board IN the
distribution it made in the five-year pro-
gram Of dreadnaughts, battle cruisers,
scouts and destroyers. | recommend ID
fleet submarines where the general board
recommends nine, and | recommend So
coast submarines as against So recon-
mended by the general board. For addi-
tional reserve ammunition, my recon-
mendation is S25,000,0o0, whereas the
general board recommends $ll 100000.
They recommend something more for
other craft. My total for the five years
Is $500, 4S2,214 The general boards to-
tai is $499876,000, very slight differ
ence for the five years, though the boards
recommendation for the first year is
much larger than the departments esti-
mate
The five year program for new ships
and completion Of those already author
lied reaches grand total OF $500, 4S22l4,
with large appropriations for reserve am
munition and aviation.
Secretary Daniels differed from the
general board in one important partieu
lar at least as to the program, although
the total number of ships to be con-
strueted and the types recommended are
those proposed by the board The sec
rotary says:
"The general board was called upon for
advice in this connection, and the de-
partment has accepted its recommends
tions as regards numbers of capital ships. |
As regards their distribution over five
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 shipbuilding industry in this coun-
try. Moreover, since the maximum rate |
of expenditure upon the capital ships, |
which take some years to build in any |
case, will not be reached Immediately, |
il enables us to concentrate at first upon |
submarines and other quickly built craft,
so that we will get earlier returns for /
our expenditure in the shape of complet-
ed vessels"
1t is understood the board recommend
ed particularly large program for the
first year.
The secretary calls attention TO the
fact that he established a precedent last
year in making public the report of the
general board, which he viii follow this
year at a later date. The result, he
says, is certain to arouse discussion as
between the recommendations of the
board and of the secretary, but adds:
'But discussion makes for knowledge
and a wise decision. The general board
is influenced by its professional views,
while the administration takes into con-
the whole national policy and
does not overlook the question Of ma
tional revenues"
Following win I've the composition Of
the fleet in 1921, built or building, II the
program il carried out, according 10 the
general boards calculations, the secre.
tary. says;