Evening journal., 1915-10-19
wilson TO ASK
B|LuOADEFEhSEFUND
President VIII Outline De-
tense Program in Speech
November 4
PLAN WOULD COVER
SIX YEARS


Navy Of upwards of a billion dollars
In the next six years will be laid be-
fore the people by President Wilson,
November 4, when he goes to New
York to make his first public address
since the scope Of the policy upon
which his administration has embark
ed became known.
He will speak before the Manhattan
Club, OF New York, on national de-
Tense and the reasons which have mi
PEELED him TO approve plans 10 about
double the navy and quadruple the
trained fighting forces ashore within
a few years.
with the estimates OF the War and
Navy Departments submitted for the
coming year. the breadth OF the Ad-
miristrations' policy as TO prepared
ness is being realized
It shapes up in totals as follows:
Navy-For new ships and increased
personnel in five years, S500,OOO,OOO.
Army-For reserve material (arms
and ammunition) within four years,
sos 100000.
For new coast defenses and mod
ernization Of old forts within four
years, S81, 100000.
For the new Continental army and
the proposed increase In the regular
army. S26 900 900. (This amount prob
ABLY will be a continuing and, II any
thine. increasing appropriation
through the first six-year period,
which would make the total expendi-
t,ire at that time $156,000,0OO).
The grand total expediture thus ac-
tuallv planned would be S824,000,00O.
According TO plsns laid out by ex-
psrts of the Navy and War Depart
,nents these expenditures would pro-
duce bv 1925 first line OF dreadnaughts
and battle cruisers numbering 49, iieet
NJ coast defense submarines that would
fringe the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
with an almost solid line of interior de-
tense against attack; a feet OF nearly
AZ destrovers and squadrons of huge
seaooing teet submarines fto operate
with the battle squadrons at great DIS
tance from shore.
For the army there would be at the
end of six years trained iorce OF y
200 OCO men, including a regular army
Of 100000 and the proposed continental
army and reserves; ring OF iully
manned coast defenses, equipped with
ihe largest and most powerful guns ye'
huilt and a vast reserve OF held guns
machine guns, howitzers and big gun
ammunition.
In addition the enormously increased
capacity OF private munition plAnt
would rive assurances OF ample sup
nlics Of small arms and field gun anmu
milton. A.
definite step toward cnlarging th
navy was taken yesterday when con
fracts were awarded for % of the night
inc craft authorized by the last Con
press. They are six big cruiser destroy
eis. 80 knot boats, each TO carry l.
forocdo tubes, four 4-inch guns ano
two s.inch anti-aircraft guns and IL
coast defense submarines, each display
inr more than 500 tons and each
equipped with 3-inch disappearing
rife for surface fighting. The day set
= new record for the department IN the
number OF contracts awarded.
Neither War nor Navy Department
estimates for the coming year have
been made public as yet in detail. 1.
was learned today, however, that OF
the $40 600 900 increase over last
wears hin 10 be asked by the War De-
nartment. SAG. 600. 600 would go toward
reserve material and coast defense
works. the remaining $26,000,OOO TO be
used in building up the new armies,
regular and continental. Part OF TINS
SAG 600 900 would 90 into building and
nrning the new forts which VIII guard
the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay.
II is proposed to spend more Of the
money in building new forts 10 guard
New York, San Francisco and other
great harbors from attack. Gigantic
is-inch rifles will be mounted in all
these defenses Of the frst-class where
enemy craft with modern guns would
be dangerous from great distance.
Another expenditure contemplated
,s FOR hitting the present II and l4-inef
,.ifes with carriages that Will glv'
Them greater range. Much alread!
hae been accomplished in that way
and the work will be carried on unit
everv fort is modernized. NO l6-incl
rsfies will be installed in place o
emaller guns, however. 1t is said, be
csrse TO make all the changes I
r,aoazines. hoists. machinery and IN
lilre would be more expensive ana les
satisfactory than to build new I'm
nIacements for these huge weapons
Contracts will be awarded ne'
month for four submarines, bigge
A faster and more powerful than an
erbmersible craft ever designed. IN
SchIev. now building, will displac
mn tons and make 20 knots on th
-rrface The new boats will dis
nIaAe 1 200 tons and make 20 knott
Next month also contracts will b
lei for two 32,000-ton superdread
naughts. ships which will carry
round dozen 14-inch rifles each, an
which will have new protection
azainst submarine attack. the ma
ture whereof is being closely guard
ed.
OF the sss.OOO,0O0 increase to b'
asked for the navy next year. the
bulk would 60 into four big ships
two superdreadnaughts and two SUI
perbattle cruisers. They WOULD be
The first Of the 16 capital ships to
be laid down within i've years, last
OF which would not be in commits.
sion until 1925.
The building Of these four ships
would tax the capacity Of American
private yards. Development of tbs
new building program must follow
these restrictions.
The present program Of not nor,
than four big ships a year, il wa
pointed out today. also gives oppor
tunity TO keep the designs up 10 dat
from year TO year
The four destroyers for which CON
tracts were awarded are to be buil
a. private yards as follows: Cram
and Sons Company. two at Ss45 oo
each; Seattle Construction and DR.,