The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-26
SEVENTY MILLION DOLLARS CALLED FOR
 BY APPROPRIATIONS
In Ships, Men, Ammunition and Efficiency the Navy Is Much Improved. Ac- cording to Statement Of Its Secretary

Washington, April 25.--The pro- navy during the past two ycavs la reviewed by Secretary of the Navy Daniels in n letter to President Harry 4. Garfield Of Williams college. prest- dent Garfield few days ago sd- dressed the following inquiry to Sec rrtary Danielsi
 T shall be obliged If you will have sent to me an authoritative statement navy equipment of the United States wish to he in a position to meet the statements made by Representative Gard ner of Massachusetts alleging that the United States is at present unprepared for military emergencies"
 In reply tc President Garfield the fol- lowing letter was sent:
 Washington, D. C., April ei 1915. "My Dear President Garfield
 1 ''! am in receipt of your recent favor asking for an authoritative statement concerning the present status of the
  and take pleasure in complying with your request as far as Is compatible. There are now in active service. fully | commissioned. 2e5 vessels of all charac- ters, which is se more than were fully , commissioned when I became secretary. There gre also 1o vessels of various 1 types in reserve and in ordinary and uncommissioned, capable of rendering ser vice ip war. We have under eonstruc- tfon gnd authorized vessels @ dread naughts 2S cestroyers aS submarines and auxiiiaries> as compared with 5f yes ssls ,5 drcEdnaughts. IA destroyers 2s sub | marines. 3 gunboats and auxiliaries) wach were under construction on March l l. 1913.
 Are All Supplied All the vessels enumerated. those in active service and those in reserve are supplied with munitions of war. No navy makes putlic tte quantity of ammunition and torpedoes, mines and other imple- ments Of naval warfare which it keeps ready. It may be said. however. that within the last two years the quantity of all has been steadily and greatly in- croased. For example. we have increased tile number of mines, on hand and in pro- cess of manufacture. by PA per cent With
 
 years has been 90 per cent. By the enla rgomcnt of the naval powder factory We shall soon be able almost to double l its former capacity, and like enlargement | of the torpedo works and the equipment of plant to construct mines will still l further increase, at decreased cost, the quantity of such stock and the possession of these plants in times of emergency will enable the department to be in a better state of preparedness as regards the sup 1 ply ef ammunition, than ever before.
 '"T'he porsonnc. of the navy is at present l composed of 4355 line. staff and warrant l officers and 5317l enlisted men. Increases l in the number of officers is dependent al- most entirely upon the output of the Naval academy, admission to which is re- l strlctnd by statute. The number of en- l listed men also is restricted, and the navy is today recruited to the maximum l strength allowed. There are now with the coors 5S24 more mcn--an increase of l l2 per cent-than there were on March ! 1, 1911.
 The Atlantic Fleet 1 The Atlantic fleet has just returned l from Guantanamo, where 1t has for many years held it's annual winter | practices. This year more battieships and destroyers have participated il, the manelivers and for a longer pe- riod than ever before.
 Under the direction of Admiral 1 Fletcher. upon plans evolved at the 1 naval war college and approved by the department the fleet has been busted l in tactics to try out it's efficiency and readiness. All reports tell of the ei,- thusasm of officers and men In this 1 practice and the splendid record made | by the ships. The fleet is now in Tangier Sound and on the southern 1 drill grounds. where it will be busy l in target practice until May. when | IL moves to New York for weeks well earned leave. Then will come the re- ! jew at New York. followed by maneI- 1 vers in Narragansett Bay region and tContInued on Page Sevenl