The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-10-07
FAST CRUISERS
FOR U. S. Navy
Also Include Dreadnoughts and
Submarines.
NAVY TO Be SECOND TO NONE

Building Program includes Expsndi-
turs Of over Two Hundred Million
on New shIps-DstaiIs Of Plan Not
Yet Worked Out.
Washington, Oct. 5.-A conference
was had by President Wilson with
Secretary OF the Navy Daniels and
Representative Padgett, chairman Of
the house committee on naval affairs
on the naval program.
The discussion was Of q preliminary
character and the president permitted
his visitors to do most OF the talking.
There are reasons for believing that
the conclusions OF the president have
not passed the stage of generalities
and that neither he nor the general
board has decided as to the number of
ships of each class which ought to be
appropriated for at the next session.
II was the presidents first discus
sion of the needs OF the navy with Mr..
Padgett and an hour spent in listen
ing to an expression of his views and
those Of the secretary.
One fact was established, however,
as a result of the conference. That
is, that the president will urge an ap-
preparation for one or more battle
cruisers as a part of the next naval
budget. The navy now has no vessel
of this type.
Mr.. Daniels said after the confer
encs that the report made to him by
Naval Constructor Mcbride, who re.
turned from England last week. after
q study of naval development In the
present war, has convinced him that
fast cruisers Of the powerful type were
absolutely essential to a we'll balanced
navy. II has been understood that Mr..
Daniels is inclined to favor the au-
thorization Of six cruisers to be COM
pleted by 1918. II 10 improbable, how
ever, that appropriations actually will
be made for more than two at the next
session of congress.
Naval authorities said that the gen
eral board will favor provisions for
battle cruisers only with the under
standing that no sacrifice Of dread
noughts 10 entaned for the building
program.
Secretary Daniels would not dis
close the number Of submarines pro-
vided for in the tentative program.
He gave the impression. however. that
he does not intend to permit his en-
thusiasm for submarines to lead him
into overlooking the Importance of
the capital ships in modern naval war
fare.
Some months ago" said the sscre-
tary. everybody WAS talking sub
marines. More recently, however. the
pendulum has swung in favor of bat
tleships. I am steering the middle
course. essential to the beginning OF
Q we'll proportioned navy"
Secretary Daniels would make no
comment on the report that he is ten
tatively committed to a program for
the spending Of $225.000.000 in new
ships.
The impression obtaining now is
that some weeks will elapse before
the president reaches anything like a
definite conclusion as to the volume
of actual appropriations to be urged on
the next congress. There has been a
fairly definite understanding for some
time that the president was resolved
to shave the army and navy program
down we'll below $500. .00o, 900 and pos
sibly below 10000. 900.
II 10 understood now that the presi-
dent told Mr.. Daniels and Mr.. Padgett
not to make announcements as to the
details Of the program. that q careful
consideration Of ways and means for
financing the program must be had
before any final decisions are possible.
The president had tentatively decided
to recommend a bond issue to defray
the cost Of additional army and navy
The impression prevailed that the
president is inclined to depend upon
the progressive building program to
cover the next several years, as we'll
~ the new construction to be provided
for by immediate appropriations to
meet the requirements OF public opin- !
Ion. II is likely that his recommends
tions will lay more emphasis on the
new building on the whole, as he con.
placing the navy upon an
equality with any navy OF the world
within from five to eight years, rather
han upon the schedule Of appropria-
lions Immediately to be approved