Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-26
DETAILS OF WORK OF THE NAVY

twenty six million authorized during the last two years of Taft's; stated in numbers, it authorized dreadnaughts instead Of two: and stated in effective ness, the five dreadnaughts authorized under Wilson will mount 36 more IA inch guns than the two authorized un- der MT. Taft.
 About Submarines.
 Second, as to submarines: These wonderful agencies of war have as- tonished the world in the present Eu- gress, elected with MT. Wilson, adopt ed my recommendation to give us all the money 1t could for submarines It ordered the construction of three sea-going submarines, the largest ever authorized by any country, and twen- ty-three submarines of the same size and type which have done such fear full execution in the present war. These submarines will cost $16,26000O. Now what was done during the last two years under Taft? Twelve submarines. to cost $7,9oS,936. were authorized. Some of our submarines are not as perfect as they should be, nor are the submarines of any other nation. Un- der this administration, however, the board of inspections has adopted stricter tests before accepting sub marines from contractors. Nobody has. as yet, perfected a satisfactory engine or satisfactory battery for sub marines. Upon my invitation. MT. Ed ison, last year, at the New York navy yard, went down into a submarine and closely studied its every feature. He thinks he has a battery that will meet the need. Our tests at the Brooklyn navy yard cause us to believe MT. Edi- son has the right principle. Without waiting for the completion of his bat tery, he has been given an order for In hn irfn old marine, accepted before March 4, 1913, whose battery does not give sat- isfaction, and one for @ new sub marine which have ordered built in the Porthmouth (N. H.) navy yard. Private firms building submarines have not given entire satisfaction. We have equipped the Portsmouth navy yard to build submarines, and by com petition between private and govern ment construction it is hoped that every obstacle may be overcome.
 Third, as to torpedoes: A state ment has been put in circulation that the navy is not making adequate pro- vision to supply itself with torpedoes The only answer I can make is to state the fact that we either have on hand or have placed orders for all the torpedoes the general board prescribes. Is this administration going backward in this respect? It would not be prop CT to make public the number of tor pedoes we have on hand, but this much may be said: For over one hundred torpedoes which the department had on hand in March, 1913, 96 more are completed or in course of manufac- ture. Therefore within few months, the supply of torpedoes will be al- most doubled. Upon my recommenda- tion, congress has enlarged the tor pedo plant at Newport, R. l., more than doubling it's capacity and the cost of manufacturing torpedoes has been reduced from $4,202. Il to $3,245.72 each. The reduction has already eff fected 8 saving of $326,700 ~
 Mines and Mining.
 "As to mines and mining: During the last two years unprecedented pro- gress has been made in the expansion of our mining equipment. This was begun and was well under way before the last congress met. The navy is not, as many suppose, charged with