The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-12-16
PLAN FOR ADEQUATE NAVY
REPORT OUTLINES FIVE.YEAR
BUILDING PROGRAMME.
For First Time in History of Depart
ment Secretary's Estimates Exceed
Those of General Board.

are contained in the annual report of
Secretary Daniels made public to-
night.
The report shows that for the first
time in the history of the department
the secretary's recommendations in
crease the expenditures proposed by
the general board. In this connec-
ton the secretary says:
MY recommendation of fve-year
programme embraces the same num-
ber as proposed by the general board
in the distribution it made in the five
year programme of dreadnaughts,
battle cruisers, scouts and destroyers.
I recommend fifteen fleet subma-
rines where the general board recon-
mends nine, and l recommend eighty
five coast submarines, as against
fifty-eight recommended by the gen.
eral board. For additional reserve
ammunition, my recommendation is
100000, whereas the general
board recommends S11, 100000. They
recommend something more for other
craft. My total for the five years is
$502,482,214. The general boards
total is s499,S76,0O0, very slight
difference for the five years, though
the boards recommendation for the
first year is much larger than the de-
partment's estimate
The five-year programme for new
ships and completion of those al
ready authorized reaches grand to-
tai of s5O2,4S2,214, with large ap-
propriations for reserve ammunition
and aviation. Z.
Secretary Daniels differed from the
general board in one important par
ticular at least as to the programme,
although the total number Of ships to
be constructed and the types recon-
mended are those proposed by the
board. The secretary says:
Boards Advice.
''The general board: was called up
on for advice in this Connection, and
the department has accepted it's rec
concentrations as regards numbers OF
capital ships. AS regards their dis
tribution over fve-year period, it
was concluded, in view of all the cir
cumstances, that it would be best to
make this as nearly uniform as might
be. This course has obvious prac-
tical advantages, particularly in view
of the present congested condition OF
the shipbuilding industry in this
country. Moreover, since the maxi
mum rate of expenditure upon the
capital ships, which take some years
to build in any case, will not be
reached Immediately, it enables us to
concentrate more at first upon sub
marines and other quickly built craft,
so that we will get earlier returns for
our expenditure in the shape of COM
pleted vessels"
1t is understood the board recon-
mended a particularly large pro-
gramme for the first year.
The secretary calls attention to the
fact that he established precedent
last year in making public the report
of the general board, which he will
follow this year at later date. The
result, he says, is certain to arouse
discussion as between the recommen-
dations of the board and of the Sec
retary, but adds:
"But discussion makes for knowl-
edge and a wise decision. The gen.
eral board is Influenced by it spro-
fessional views, while the admins
tration takes into consideration the
whole national policy and does not
overlook the question of national
revenues
Fleet of 1921.
Following will be the composition
of the feet in 1921, built or building,
if the programme is carried out, ac-
cording to the general boards cal
culations, the secretary says:
Battleships, first }ine w 27
Battle cruisers 80. .
Battleships, second line 49,. 49,. 80. %
Armored cruisers .. 49, ---. ---- 10
Scout cruisers w .. 49,. ..-. 80. -
Cruisers, first class w 800 49, ..--- 5
Cruisers, second class 80. ---- ------ 3
Cruisers. third class -. -: 90: ~