Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-12-10

which o ranks very high indeed
among the navies of the maritime ma
tions. We should now definitely de-
termine how we shall complete what
we nave begun, and how soon.
The program to be laid before you
contemplates the construction within
five years of ten battleships, six bat
tie cruisers, ten scout cruisers, fifty
destroyers, fifteen fleet submarines,
eighty-fve coast submarines, four gun
boats, one hospital ship, two ammuni-
ton ships, two fuel oil ships, and one
regular repair ship. 1t is proposed
that of this number we shall the first
year provide for the construction of
two battleships, two battle cruisers,
three scout cruisers, fifteen d~estroyers,
five fleet submarines, twenty-five coast
submarines, two gunboats, and n
hospital ship; the second year, two
battleships, one scout cruiser, ten de-
stroyers, four fleet submarines, fifteen
coast submarines, one gunboat, and
one fuel oil ship; the third year, two
battleships, n battle cruiser, two
scout cruisers, five d~estroyers, two
fleet submarines, and fifteen coast
submarines; the fourth year, two bat
tleships, two battle cruisers, two scout
cruisers, ten ~destroyers, two fleet sub
marines, fifteen coast submarines, one
ammunition ship, and n fuel oil
ship; and the fifth year, two battle
ships, n battle cruiser, two scout
cruisers, ten d~estroyers, two feet sub
marines, fifteen coast submarines, one
gunboat, one ammunition ship, and
n repair ship.
More Men for the Navy.
The secretary of the navy is asking
also for the immediate addition to the
personnel of the navy of $500 sail
ors, 1900 apprentice seamen, and
1900 marines. This increase would
be sufficient to care for the ships
which are to be completed with
in the fiscal year 1917 and also for the
number of men which must be put in
training to man the ships which will
be completed early in 1918. It is also
necessary that the number of midship-
men at the Naval academy at Annap-
oils should be increased by at least
three hundred
If this full program should be car
ried out we should have built or build
ing in 1921, according to the estimates
of survival and standards of classif-
cation followed by the general board
of the department, an effective navy
consisting of 81 battleships, of the first
line, 6 battle cruisers, 25 battleships
of the second line, 10 armored cruis-
ers, Is scout cruisers, 5 frst-class
cruisers, 3 second-class cruisers, 10
third-class cruisers, 108 destroyers, Is
fleet submarines, 1877 coast submarines,
6 monitors 20 gunboats, 4 supply
ships, Is fuel ships, A transports,
3 tenders to torpedo vessels, s YES
sells of special types, and 2 ammuni-
ton ships. This would be a navy fit
ted to our needs and worthy of our
traditions.
But armies and instruments of war
are only part of what has to be con-
sidered If we are to consider the su.
preme matter of national self-sufficien'
cy and security in all its aspects.
There are other great matters which
will be thrust pom our attention
whether we will or not. There is, for
example, a very pressing question of
trade and shipping involved in this
great problem of national adequacy.
1t is necessary for many weighty rea-
sons of national efficiency and devel-
opment that we should have a great
merchant marine. The great merchant
feet we once used to make us rich,
that great body of sturdy sailors who
used to carry our flag into every sea,
and who were the pride and often the
bulwark of the nation, we have almost
driven out of existence by inexcusable
neglect and Indifference and by a
hopelessly blind and provincial policy
of ~so-called economic protection. 1t
is high time we repaired our mistake
and resumed our commercial indie.
pendence on the seas.
Need of Merchant Marine.
For it is a question of independ-
ence. If other nations go to war or
seek to hamper each others COM
u1SICOJ Jul mOI Cudnlo, II oCChuoy al
at their mercy, to do with as they
please. We must use their ships, and
use them as they determine. We have
not ships enough of our own. We
cannot handle our own commerce on
the seas. Our independence is provin-
cial, and is only on land and within
our own borders. We are not likely
to be permitted to use wen the ships
of other nations in rivalry of their
own trade, and are without means to
extend our commerce wen where the
doors are wide open and our goods
desired. Such a situation is not to
be endured. 1t is of capital import
ance not only that the United States
should be its own carrier OF the seas
and enjoy the economic independence
which Only an adequate merchant ma